Overview
- Both offensive tackle Braden Smith and defensive end Ali Gaye were carted off during a joint practice with the Carolina Panthers, with the plays occurring nearly simultaneously on adjacent fields.
- Multiple outlets report the Texans suspect Smith suffered a foot injury, a detail first shared by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, while Gaye was described as having a lower‑leg issue; the team has not given an official medical diagnosis.
- Coach DeMeco Ryans declined to provide specifics after practice, leaving the immediate status of both players and any time‑off estimates unresolved going into roster cutdowns.
- Smith was a recent multi‑year free‑agent addition expected to compete for the starting right tackle job opposite Trent Brown, so his potential absence would force quick adjustments to Houston’s offensive‑line plans.
- The injuries add to an already thin injury picture for the Texans — including a reported ACL tear to Jayden Higgins — and come as the club finalizes evaluations before the preseason finale and the regular season.