Houston Texans: 3 inside linebackers to replace Dylan Cole

The Houston Texans will be in the market for another inside linebacker with Dylan Cole being out for the season with an ACL injury.

The Houston Texans have been dealt another blow to their defense with inside linebacker Dylan Cole being ruled out for the remainder of the NFL season with a torn ACL after falling on a non-contact play on special teams. Cole’s injury comes at the wrong time with him entering the last year of his rookie deal and being a restricted free agent this upcoming offseason.

Injuries have set the tone in Cole’s early years in the league as he spent time on the injured reserve every year since signing with the Texans as an undrafted free agent in 2017. He dealt with a hamstring injury his rookie season, dislocated wrist in 2018, and now will have to work to his way back from an ACL injury.

Losing Cole will affect the Texans from defensive and special teams standpoint as he was first on the team with eight special teams tackles. He was also the third inside linebacker on the depth chart behind Benardrick McKinney and Zach Cunningham. Cole’s athleticism and ability to drop back in coverage as a linebacker made him an asset in the defense.

Texans have three inside linebackers on the roster moving forward with McKinney, Cunningham, and Tyrell Adams on the depth chart. Texans will have to go the free agency route with no inside linebacker candidates on the practice squad with Adams promoted after Week 3.