HOUSTON – Texans veteran linebacker E.J. Speed is expected to miss the entire regular season after further examination of his quadriceps revealed a completely torn tendon that has been successfully surgically repaired, per a league source.
Speed partially tore his quadriceps muscle, and fully tore his quadriceps tendon while performing a one-legged, split squat during the Texans’ offseason workout program. The initial prognosis was a partial tear of the quadriceps tendon, which would have allowed Speed to return at some point during the season, perhaps in the October to November range. Now, that is not the case.
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The surgery was performed by Dallas Cowboys team doctor and renowned orthopedic surgeon Dan Cooper.
There is a slim, outside chance Speed could get healthy enough to be ready to return for the playoffs, but that is not currently the expectation, per a source.
With Speed out on a long-term basis, the Texans will lean heavily on Pro Bowl middle linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair and Henry To’oTo’o. They have veterans Jake Hansen, Jamal Hill, Marte Mapu and Jake Hummel on the roster along with rookie draft picks Wade Woodaz and Aiden Fisher.
“The competition is high at every position,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said last week. “Unfortunately, we won’t have E.J. for some time, but we’ll see how that recovery process goes. I’m hopeful that we’ll get E.J. back at some point this year.”
Speed, a key linebacker and special-teams contributor, signed a two-year $13 million maximum value contract rather than head to free agency after his original one-year, $5 million contract expired.
Speed received a $4 million signing bonus and $7.5 million of the deal is guaranteed, with base salaries of $1.75 million (fully guaranteed), another $250,000 total available through per game active roster bonuses and an additional $1.5 million in incentives.
His total first-year payout has a base value of $5.75 million and a max value of $7.5 million. In the second year, he has a $3.75 million base salary with $1.75 million of that guaranteed and identical playtime per game and incentives as this season.
Speed emerged as an important part of the defense, recording 62 tackles, three for losses, two quarterback hits and one pass defensed in 16 games with nine starts for a playoff squad. He played 44 percent of the defensive snaps and 52 percent of the special teams snaps last season.
The Texans traded for former New England Patriots linebacker and safety Marte Mapu this offseason.
The Patriots receive a sixth-round pick and the Texans receive a seventh-round selection as well as Mapu.
Mapu (6-foot-3, 230 pounds) is a former Patriots third-round draft picks from Sacramento State who had been informed he would be released. Instead, he has a fresh start with the Texans.
“Marte, what I like about him, he’s a very smart linebacker,” Ryans said. “Smart, he’s long, fast guy. But Marte does a really good job of being where he’s supposed to be in position. He’s communicating. We’re moving him around. He’s taking some reps at the Mike linebacker spot.
“He does a really good job of communicating. He’s also taking some spots at the, some reps at the Will linebacker. He’s a smart guy who you’re able to move around at multiple spots. He’s done a really good job on special teams as well. He’s a very versatile athletic linebacker.
A former Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year, Mapu is in the final year of a $5.563 million rookie contract. He’s due a $1.508 million base salary.
He played in every game last season and recorded 25 tackles, one forced fumble, one interception and five pass deflections. He has also started at safety.
Mapu played 12 percent of the overall defensive snaps, primarily in sub packages. Twelve of his tackles were on special teams.
He recorded 89 tackles, three interceptions and a half-sack for New England in 44 games with 10 starts.
“Still a young player,” Ryans said. “Young player who’s played in three or four different schemes already to be so young in his career. Hoping he just settles in to what we’re being able to teach him. Coach Bill Davis has done an outstanding job of working with him this offseason.
“Marte is the type of guy, he’s always in the building. We have to kick him out. He’s always doing the extras, the film, the recovery, body maintenance. He’s a true worker. I’m proud to see how he transitions and how he looks during training camp.”
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com