GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Texans veteran starting linebacker Christian Kirksey suffered a thumb injury Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, and the team is concerned that he may have sustained a fracture.
“We’re not really sure what the situation is with that,” Texans coach David Culley said.
The Texans' defensive signal caller, Kirksey finished second on the defense with eight tackles during a 31-5 defeat to the undefeated Cardinals.
Since signing a one-year, $4.5 million contract this offseason to join the Texans after previous stints with the Green Bay Packers and Cleveland Browns, Kirksey has started every game this season and has 51 tackles and one interception.
Even if the thumb is fractured, Kirksey is considered likely to be able to play through the injury.
If Kirksey is sidelined, the Texans would likely go with a combination of Kamu Grugier-Hill, Zach Cunningham and Kevin Pierre-Louis.
It's one of the deeper positions on the 1-6 Texans, a rebuilding team on a six-game losing streak.
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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