Texans put CB Jaylin Smith on IR with hamstring injury
TLDR: The Texans placed 2nd-year cornerback Jaylin Smith on injured reserve Tuesday with a Grade 2 hamstring injury, his 3rd trip to IR in just 2 NFL seasons.
Smith got hurt blocking on punt coverage in Sunday's loss to the Cowboys, and Houston had him get second opinions before making the call.
#Texans place Jaylin Smith on injured reserve due to hamstring injury he received second medical opinions for, released Treyvhon Saunders from practice squad
The second opinions didn't save him from IR. Houston also cut wide receiver Treyvhon Saunders from the practice squad in the same batch of moves. Saunders was an undrafted rookie and Colgate's all-time leader in receptions, but he never stuck on the roster.
Here's the part Texans fans can hang onto: Grade 2 is a real tear, but it isn't the end of his year. A league source says Smith can still come back later in the season.
#Texans corner Jaylin Smith has a Grade 2 hamstring injury, per a league source. Although placed on injured reserve, there is a scenario where he can return later this season.
That doesn't make the history any easier to look at. Houston took Smith in the 3rd round in 2025 at pick 97. A hamstring sent him to IR early in his rookie year, then a torn meniscus against Denver in Week 9 ended the rest of it. He has now played in 8 of his 23 possible games with the Texans, playoffs included. This year he's been almost all special teams: 2 tackles, 76 special teams snaps and just 7 on defense through 4 games. So the defense isn't losing a starter. Special teams is losing a regular, and a guy who keeps trying to stay healthy loses more time.
Sitting out the minimum 4 games puts him back in practice around November at the earliest. With his hamstring history, nobody should expect him back the first day he's eligible.
The secondary also has something going the other way. Veteran safety M.J. Stewart, a former Buccaneers 2nd-round pick, is expected back this week after recovering from the torn quad that ended his 2025 season.
#Texans expected to get reinforcements at safety this week from veteran M.J. Stewart, a former #Buccaneers second-round pick who has recorded 237 career tackles, two interceptions, nine tackles for losses, one sack, 15 passes defensed. Has made full recovery from torn quadriceps. Last year: nine games, four starts, 25 tackles, two passes defensed, one forced fumble. Stewart could help this secondary.
Stewart isn't a star, but he's a vet who can start: 237 career tackles, 15 passes defensed, and 4 starts in 9 games last year before the quad went. Smith was a special teams piece and Stewart plays safety, so this isn't a straight swap. Still, the defensive backfield gets an experienced body back the same week it loses a young one. Smith now has to get healthy and stay that way, because a 3rd IR stint in 2 years starts to define a player.
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