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Whitney Mercilus joins teammate J.J. Watt on the list of Houston Texans players who are out for the rest of the season. The outside linebacker had the misfortune of suffering a torn pectoral muscle in the first quarter of the Texans’ 42-34 loss to Kansas City Chiefs Sunday night.
Mercilus’ injury will require surgery according to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle, and his season is over.
Mercilus suffered torn pectoral muscle and is out for year. Will undergo surgery
— John McClain (@McClain_on_NFL) October 9, 2017
It’s hard not to feel for the Texans, who also lost Watt to a broken leg he suffered in the Chiefs game. Without Watt and Mercilus, Houston’s defense loses two of its best talents on the line. When Watt was sidelined last season with back problems, it was Mercilus who stepped up, leading the Texans in sacks with 7.5 to go with four recovered fumbles.
The face of the Texans’ defense, at least for now, is going to be 2014 No. 1 overall pick Jadeveon Clowney, who was second to Mercilus last year in sacks with 6.0 and is currently the leader of the team in that department with 3.0 so far.
Still, it’s a tall order for the Texans to find pieces who can replicate what Watt and Mercilus do for the team.
The season is far from over, however. The Texans are still in the running for the top spot in the AFC South with a 2-3 record. They get the struggling Cleveland Browns next week, providing Houston with a chance to get its mojo back.
