DETROIT – Texans outside linebacker Brooks Reed left Thursday's game against the Lions with a groin injury in the first quarter. He did not return.
Reed will have an MRI on Friday to determine the severity of his injury. He said after the game that it felt like he had a pulled groin.
"I'm alright," Reed said in the visitors' locker room at Ford Field. "I don't think it's that, that serious. I think I'll be back pretty quick."
Reed was injured while running down the field in coverage near the right sideline. He pulled up lame and immediately grabbed the inside of his left groin area. He was down on one knee after the play before getting up and walking gingerly to the sideline with team medical staff.
The Texans also suffered injuries on Thursday to inside linebacker Bradie James (hamstring), right guard Antoine Caldwell (hamstring), right tackle Derek Newton (right knee) and tight end Garrett Graham (shoulder). Texans coach Gary Kubiak called James, Caldwell and Reed each a "big concern."
Rookie Whitney Mercilus replaced Reed. The first-round draft pick from Illinois had four tackles, including two tackles for loss. Ryan Harris filled in for Newton, who left in the second quarter, at right tackle.
James was hurt early in the fourth quarter and did not return. Barrett Ruud came on in his absesnce and promptly broke up two passes on back-to-back plays.
The Texans were banged up to begin with before the game. Coming off an overtime victory against Jacksonville on Sunday, cornerback Johnathan Joseph (hamstring), nose tackle Shaun Cody (ribs/back), inside linebacker Tim Dobbins (shoulder), running back Ben Tate (hamstring) and wide receiver DeVier Posey (hamstring/knee) were all inactive because of injuries.
"The things we went through today, obviously, J-Joe's not here," Kubiak said. "We lose Bradie, we lost Caldwell, seemed like one thing after another, and to me it was from just the wear and tear of how much football we played in such a short period of time.
"We're pretty beat up. Obviously, we paid the price for these four days, and we've got to figure out a way to get 'em all back."
Texans players will now have three days off for rest, relaxation and recovery beginning on Friday. Their next game is 10 days away, at Tennessee on Dec. 2.
Twitter.com/NickScurfield*
