Speed (quadriceps) was moved to the reserve/PUP list by the Texans on Sunday.
Speed suffered a torn quadriceps tendon while lifting weights in May, and he underwent surgery to repair the injury. The linebacker is expected to miss the entirety of the 2026 season, and in his absence, Jake Hansen (ankle) and Henry To'oTo'o are set to operate as the team's primary outside linebackers.
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Texans' E.J. Speed: Won't play in 2026
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Speed will miss the entire 2026 season due to a torn quadriceps tendon, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Speed underwent surgery over the offseason after scans revealed a total tear rather than a partial tear. He opened training camp on the active/PUP list with the hope that he would be available to play at some point in the regular season, but the injury is severe enough for Speed to miss the entire 2026 season. He'll shift his focus toward being fully healthy for the 2027 campaign.
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Texans' E.J. Speed: On PUP to start training camp
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Speed (quadriceps) will begin training camp on the Texans' active/PUP list, per the team's official site.
Speed suffered a partial tear to his quadriceps and quad tendon while lifting weights back in May, and as training camp starts up, he's still not ready to return to football activities. In his stead, rookie fourth-rounder Wade Woodaz could get some practice reps with the first-team defense.
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Texans' E.J. Speed: Needs surgery for quad injury
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Speed partially tore his quadriceps and quad tendon during training and will have surgery next week, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Per Wilson, Speed was injured while lifting weights. He's expected to need at least three months after surgery before he can begin rehab, so it's almost certain that the veteran linebacker will miss a significant portion of the upcoming season, though the expectation is that he'll be able to return at some point during the campaign. Speed started nine of the 16 regular-season games in which he played for Houston last season and also was a contributor on special teams. Jake Hansen (chest), Jamal Hill, Marte Mapu and Jake Hummel, along with rookie draft picks Wade Woodaz and Aiden Fisher, are candidates to get significant defensive snaps in Speed's absence.
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Texans' E.J. Speed: Staying in Houston
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Speed and the Texans agreed to a two-year, $13 million contract Saturday that includes $7.5 million guaranteed, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Speed joined the Texans on a one-year deal in March of 2025 after spending the first six years of his NFL career with the Colts. His new deal Saturday includes a $4 million signing bonus and ensures that he'll stick around in Houston for the foreseeable future. Speed finished the 2025 regular season with 62 tackles (33 solo) and one pass defense over 16 games, which broke his streak of 100-tackle seasons at two.
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Texans' E.J. Speed: Clears injury designation
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Speed (knee) has no injury designation heading into Sunday's matchup against the Raiders.
Speed upgraded to full participation in practice Friday and is now ready to go Sunday against the Raiders after missing Week 15 with an ankle injury. The 30-year-old has 47 tackles (28 solo) and one pass breakup in 13 games this season.
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Texans' E.J. Speed: Upgrades to limited practice
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Speed (knee) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice.
Speed sat out Wednesday's practice entirely after having missed Week 15 versus Arizona. His return to practice Thursday, even as a limited participant, bodes well for his odds of gaining clearance for Sunday's game against the Raiders. To return Week 16, however, Speed may have to prove he can handle full practice reps Friday.
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Texans' E.J. Speed: Not playing Week 15
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Speed (knee) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Cardinals.
Speed was able to practice all week in a limited capacity, but his knee injury is severe enough for him to miss Sunday's contest. Jake Hansen, Christian Harris and Jamal Hill are all candidates to see more snaps at linebacker in Speed's absence.
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Texans' E.J. Speed: Questionable for Sunday
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Speed (knee) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Cardinals.
Speed managed to be a limited participant in all practices this week, a positive sign for the linebacker's playing chances. The 30-year-old has not missed a game this season, but if he is not healthy enough to be cleared for Sunday, Jamal Hill and Jake Hansen will likely see increased snaps at outside linebacker for the Texans' defense.
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Texans' E.J. Speed: Seven tackles in Week 12 win
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Speed recorded seven tackles (three solo) in the Texans' win over the Bills on Thursday night.
Speed played just 47 percent of the defensive snaps and 16 snaps on special teams, and he matched his season-high with the seven tackles against Buffalo. On the season, Speed has played 43 percent of the defensive snaps and 55 percent of the downs on special teams. He's produced 43 tackles (26 solo) and one pass breakup across 11 appearances.
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Texans' E.J. Speed: Logs seven stops vs. Seahawks
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Speed tallied seven total tackles (six solo) during Monday night's 27-19 loss to the Seahawks.
Speed played a season-high 44 defensive snaps in Houston's Week 7 loss. The 30-year-old linebacker has now tallied 23 total tackles in his first six games as a Texan, contributing both defensively (116 snaps) and on special teams (93 snaps). He's expected to remain one of Houston's top linebackers in the Week 8 matchup against the 49ers.
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Colts' E.J. Speed: Good to go against Giants
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Speed (knee) is active for Sunday's game against the Giants.
Speed didn't play in Week 16 against the Titans due to a knee injury. He opened the week with consecutive DNPs, but he managed to log a full practice Friday, which was enough for him to be cleared to play Sunday. Speed will start at linebacker alongside Zaire Franklin and Jaylon Carlies, while Segun Olubi, Cameron McGrone and Grant Stuard provide rotational depth.
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Colts' E.J. Speed: Double-digit stops in loss
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Speed recorded 13 total tackles (seven solo) in Sunday's 31-13 loss to the Broncos.
Speed led the Colts in tackles in Week 15, reaching double-digit stops for the fourth time in seven games and eighth time overall in 2024. The linebacker has now compiled 130 total tackles (87 solo) and four passes defensed, including an interception, over 13 contests this season.
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Colts' E.J. Speed: Has nice day in win
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Speed recorded nine tackles (eight solo) and a pass defensed during Sunday's 25-24 win at New England.
Speed tallied nine-plus tackles for the fifth time in his last six contests in Week 13, and his pass breakup prevented a big gain on the Patriots' final drive of the game. He projects as a good IDP option for the fantasy playoffs after the Colts' bye in Week 14.
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Colts' E.J. Speed: Questionable for Sunday
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Speed (knee) is questionable for Sunday's contest against the Jets.
Speed was limited Wednesday and Thursday and practiced in full Friday, but he was still given a questionable tag. Speed has started all nine games he's appeared in this season, racking up 88 tackles (62 solo), including six TFLs, and three pass breakups, including one interception.
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Colts' E.J. Speed: Ten tackles in return
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Speed had 10 total tackles, including a tackle for a loss, and a pass defensed in Sunday's loss at Houston.
Speed missed the Week 7 win over Miami due to a knee injury but was back to full speed. He played on all 71 of the defense's snaps.
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Colts' E.J. Speed: Career-high 12 solo tackles Sunday
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Speed finished Sunday's 27-24 win over the Steelers with 13 tackles (12 solo).
Speed once again led the Colts in tackling Sunday and was one of five Indianapolis defenders to play all 70 snaps on defense. Speed's 12 solo tackles is a career high, and his 13 combined tackles tied a career best he set in Week 18 against the Texans in 2023. Speed's 34 solo tackles leads the NFL through the first four games of the regular season, and his 47 total tackles is tied with teammate Nick Cross.
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Colts' E.J. Speed: Secures 11 tackles in loss
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Speed recorded 11 total tackles (eight solo) in Sunday's 16-10 loss to the Packers.
Speed was able to compile double-digit stops for the second consecutive week to open the 2024 season. Through two weeks, the linebacker has produced 21 total tackles (16 solo) while operating as the Colts' primary weak-side linebacker.
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Colts' E.J. Speed: Career-high tackle total Saturday
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Speed recorded 13 tackles (10 solo) in Saturday's 23-19 loss versus the Texans.
Over 16 games this season, Speed recorded 102 tackles (78 solo) including a sack and three forced fumbles. It was a career-best year for him in essentially every category. He has one more season on his current contract and currently figures to play a significant role at linebacker for the Colts again in 2024.
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Colts' E.J. Speed: Records 13 tackles
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Speed finished with 13 tackles (10 solo), including a tackle for a loss, and two passes defensed in the Colts' 29-10 loss to the Falcons on Sunday.
Speed now has 23 tackles in two games since returning from a knee injury. The fifth-year pro has set a career high in tackles this season with 78. The linebacker also has four pass breakups and three forced fumbles.
