Texans' Mixon Escapes Serious Injury After Tackle
Houston, Texas - The Houston Texans breathed a collective sigh of relief on Sunday after running back Samaje Perine escaped serious injury following a brutal tackle in their Week 3 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Perine, who has become a crucial part of the Texans' offense, was tackled by Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt in the second quarter. The impact of the tackle left Perine lying on the ground for several minutes before being helped off the field.
"It looked pretty bad," said Texans head coach Lovie Smith. "He was down for a while, but the initial reports are positive."
Perine was later diagnosed with a concussion and a bruised shoulder. While the concussion will sideline him for at least one game, the shoulder injury is not expected to be long-term.
"It's never easy to see a guy go down like that," said Texans quarterback Davis Mills. "Samaje is a tough guy, and I'm glad it's not as bad as it looked."
Perine's absence will likely see Rex Burkhead and rookie Dameon Pierce take on an increased workload in the Texans' backfield. Pierce, a third-round draft pick, has shown flashes of potential in limited action this season.
"We're confident in Rex and Dameon," said Smith. "They've both been working hard, and they're ready to step up."
The Texans will be looking to bounce back from their Week 3 loss to the Steelers when they face the Los Angeles Chargers on the road in Week 4.
The following are some key takeaways from the Perine injury:
- The importance of Perine to the Texans' offense is undeniable. He has been a consistent threat both running and receiving.
- The emergence of Dameon Pierce will be crucial in Perine's absence. The rookie has shown flashes of potential, and this could be his chance to solidify a role in the Texans' offense.
- The Texans will need to find a way to generate offense without Perine. Their offensive line has struggled at times this season, and they will need to find a way to open up running lanes for Burkhead and Pierce.
The Texans will be hoping for a speedy recovery for Perine. His presence in the backfield is essential for their success moving forward.
