Texans tight end Brevin Jordan suffered ‘devastating’ season-ending knee injury, placed on injured reserve

HOUSTON – Texans veteran tight end Brevin Jordan suffered a season-ending knee injury during practice and will be placed on injured reserve, per league sources,

Jordan injured the same knee he hurt last September against the Chicago Bears when he tore his anterior cruciate ligament and underwent surgery.

It was an extremely emotional moment for Jordan and the defending AFC South champions when he got hurt in practice. Jordan will get second opinions before deciding on what surgical options he’ll pursue.

The Texans later made the transaction involving Jordan official.

“For us, it’s tough putting Brevin on IR,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “We know he went down with a devastating injury. It’s really rough for a guy who just bounced back from a major injury.

“So, it’s tough on Brevin right now, tough on our team. But that happens. That’s the game we play. It happens. Injuries happen. We have to continue to press forward while also being here to support ‘Brev in any way that he needs us.”

The Texans are expected to look for more depth at tight end with the loss of Jordan.

When Jordan got hurt in practice Monday in the Texans’ Methodist Training Center while running a route against linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, it was a somber, emotional moment that led to coach DeMeco Ryans halting practice for several minutes,

Although he got up initially and waved off trainers, Jordan went to the ground and began crying and sobbing loudly. He was inconsolable, in obvious pain and feeling the evident frustration of getting hurt again after working extremely hard to battle back from last year’s injury.

Practice was halted for several minutes. Teammates, including quarterback C.J. Stroud checked on Jordan and prayed. Stroud was emotional, as were the rest of the players, including tight end Dalton Schultz.

Jordan was carted off the field through a side door with medical personnel. His loud screams could be heard from several yards away while he was inside the practice bubble and once he departed the facility.

It was a bad situation all-around for Jordan and the Texans, but practice eventually resumed.

Jordan, a deeply spiritual person, leaned heavily on his faith and family while engineering a comeback from the knee injury last year.

He knew he was back for sure when he hit 21.7 miles per hour in training. That was a bit faster than the 20.03 miles per hour he reached during a 76-yard touchdown catch against the Cleveland Browns that set the tone for a 45-14 AFC wild-card playoff win during Ryans’ first season in Houston.

Now, he’s hurt again.

Even though he was injured, Jordan signed a one-year, $2.1 million contract last season because of how strongly the team feels about him.

A former University of Miami standout, Jordan had two catches for seven yards last season and has recorded 53 career catches for 532 yards and five touchdowns.

“I think it’s just being empathetic to all the guys and knowing how much work NFL players go through, how much their bodies take and knowing the other side of it when guys are done playing and the effects it has on guys,” Ryans said. “The game, it puts a lot of guys in bad shape, so I don’t take that lightly. It’s just tough. Anytime I see guys go down, it’s tough to swallow because I know all the work these guys put in.

“Their road to recovery, I’m thinking, I’ve been on that road. I know how dark that road can be at times. It’s just constant prayer for all the guys around the NFL that go down with injuries.”

NOTES: Texans veteran tight end Irv Smith Jr., arguably the strongest blocker on the squad, has been sidelined for several practices with a finger injury, per a league source. He is expected to make a full recovery.

The current tight ends, without Jordan, include starter Dalton Schultz, top backup Cade Stover, Smith, rookie Luke Lachey and Dalton Keene. Fullback Jakob Johnson can also play fullback.

Veteran running back Nick Chubb is full-go again after head injury recovery. He split snaps with the ones with Dameon Pierce, who was full-go for first time after strained quadriceps. Pierce looks like he’s in great shape.

Great 1-on-1 matchup in red zone between Nico Collins and Kamari Lassiter. Collins caught touchdown in corner of end zone after lengthy route, tight coverage.

Linebacker Christian Harris did team drills with a full practice for the first time since returning from a calf injury and moved extremely well.

Tytus Howard didn’t practice after participating in the early portion of the workout, watching drills.

Irv Smith Jr. (hand), Cam Robinson (leg), Jaylen Reed (ankle), C.J. Gardner-Johnson (knee) didn’t practice, too.

Calen Bullock and M.J. Stewart took the first safety snaps, with Jalen Mills working in.

With Howard not practicing, the offensive line was comprised o f Aireontae Ersery, left guard Laken Tomlinson, center Jake Andrews, right guard Ed Ingram and right tackle Blake Fisher. Will Anderson Jr beat Fisher for a sack.

Second-year linebacker Jamal Hill intercepted rookie quarterback Graham Mertz, and returned it for touchdown toward end of practice.

Couple touchdown catches for wide receiver John Metchie III in one-on-ones against All-Pro corner Derek Stingley Jr. in red zone drill.

Another strong performer in the red zone drill: wide receiver Braxton Berrios, who caught a touchdown pass from Davis Mills in the preseason opener against the Minnesota Vikings.

During team drills, cornerback Kamari Lassiter intercepted quarterback C.J. Stroud on a pass intended for slot Christian Kirk.

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com