Texans veteran defensive tackle Vincent Taylor was officially placed on injured reserve.
Taylor is undergoing ankle surgery with Dr. James Varner performing the procedure and is expected to miss a maximum of six to eight weeks, according to a league source not authorized to speak publicly.
Taylor could return at some point later in the season depending on how his rehab and healing process goes.
A magnetic resonance imaging exam revealed the extent of the damage Monday after the former Miami Dolphins' sixth-round draft pick from Oklahoma State was carted off the field Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Taylor was replaced by rookie Roy Lopez, a sixth-round draft pick from Arizona.
The Texans will also utilize Ross Blacklock and DeMarcus Walker and Jaleel Johnson, who was signed off of the New Orleans Saints' practice squad and rejoined the Texans after being released during the final major roster cutdown to 53 players.
“He knows exactly what we’re all about," Texans coach David Culley said of Johnson, a former Minnesota Vikings fifth-round draft pick from Iowa. "Again, when we made the cut to be able to do what we did, we knew we were letting go of a guy that would be in this league and be playing. We’re very fortunate right now with the situation with Vincent that we’re able to get him back.”
Aaron Wilson has covered the NFL for 20 seasons, including the Texans, Baltimore Ravens, Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars. He has previously written for The Houston Chronicle and The Baltimore Sun. He’s on Twitter: @AaronWilson_NFL and Instagram: @aaronwilson7128.
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