The Houston Texans could be without their best offensive weapon and playmaker for the next two games.
According to a report Tuesday by Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston, Pierce suffered a high ankle sprain that is not considered too serious in the Texans’ Week 14 contest in Dallas. According to Wilson, Pierce is expected to miss the Texans game against the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday in Houston, and the normal timetable for his injury is 1-2 weeks. Pierce’s pending MRI results will likely be a significant factor in determining when he will be able to return to the lineup.
Pierce was injured early in the fourth quarter and came out of the game to get his ankle retaped. He would later reenter the game, but exit again after only one carry. He was unable to finish the game, leading to Rex Burkhead getting the call when the Texans had first-and-goal at the Dallas 4 late in the fourth quarter with a chance to ice the game. They ultimately came up empty, and the Cowboys scored a last-minute touchdown to win the game.
Monday, Texans head coach Lovie Smith expressed some concern about his team’s leading rusher:
“He has an ankle injury that kept him out. He didn’t finish the game. That’s always concerning when a player didn’t finish the game. It will take an awful lot for him not to play, but if it’s an injury, of course, it can. Hopefully, it’s short-term. We’ll see.”
With Tuesday’s report by ESPN’s Adam Schefter that the Texans were waiving running back Eno Benjamin, Pierce’s injury would leave Houston with only two healthy running backs on the active roster in Rex Burkhead and Dare Ogunbowale.
Royce Freeman is the only running back currently on the team’s practice squad, and he would seem to be in line for an elevation to the active roster for Houston’s Week 15 matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs at NRG Stadium.