Justin

Reid

With Tyrann Mathieu widely expected to walk in free agency, Reid arrives as the Honey Badger’s replacement. The No. 68 overall pick of the 2018 draft, Reid has been starting since his rookie year. He was better in 2018-19 before a team-wide malaise took hold of the Texans in 2020-21. Rather amazingly, Reid has only one career pick, but he has had good seasons both in coverage and as a run defender. He just hasn’t put it all together in a while. The Chiefs clearly believe he will be able to do so in a much better environment.

Safeties Jonathan Owens and Grayland Arnold were placed on injured reserve. Assuming Reid doesn’t clear COVID protocols in time for Week 18, the trio of moves leaves Houston decimated at safety. Reid has two interceptions and four pass defenses on the year.

Rex Burkhead (hip) is active, as is Brevin Jordan (hand). Reid was concussed last game and will likely be replaced by Jonathan Owens. Moreland popped up with an illness yesterday. In the midst of one of the NFL’s least-talked about COVID-19 outbreaks, the Texans are barely fielding a full 53 against the Jaguars.

The already-porous Houston secondary gets worse with Reid’s absence. Houston is allowing the eighth highest expected points added (EPA) per drop back since Week 7, though opponents usually choose to grind down the Texans via the run.

Reid and Grugier-Hill’s absences are extremely poor news for one of the league’s most undermanned teams. The fact that both were “questionable” and had their status come down to game time does bode well for their odds of a Week 4 return.

He’ll reportedly sit on Thursday due to the sprained knee that has sidelined him for the past two practices. Fortunately, the organization isn’t regarding it as a long-term setback. Reid has been on fire to open the final year of his contract, intercepting two passes with one forced fumble in the first two games. LB Kamu Grugier-Hill, who most recently recorded nine tackles, one sack and a forced fumble against Cleveland, is also expected to sit with a knee injury. The Panthers remain -8 point road favorites (and rightfull so) at PointsBet.

The Houston secondary has been decimated in recent weeks with the losses of top CB Bradley Roby to a PEDs suspension and now Reid. Reid has played 98% of the Texans’ defensive snaps this season, and Mitchell Trubisky just lit this defense up for his best game of the season in a Week 14 Bears win. Houston finishes the season with the Colts, Bengals, and Titans.

Reid shed his shoulder sling last week. He’s just over a month removed from surgery to repair a torn labrum — something he played with throughout 2019. Reid seems likely to sit out OTAs but is targeting a training camp return.

Reid played with a torn labrum for the entire 2020 season but now needs surgery to repair the damage. The safety will be sidelined for some of the offseason but should be ready to go for the beginning of next season. Reid also spent the last offseason rehabbing from wrist surgery.

Reid underwent surgery in January, and it may have been a little more serious than expected if he’s not fully healthy yet. However, his Week 1 status isn’t in doubt. Last year’s third-round bargain has shed his cast and he’s eyeing a full recovery before the season rolls around. As a rookie in 2018, Reid played 906 snaps and made 88 tackles.