Houston Texans Roster Moves: Texans Move Derek Newton To Injured Reserve, Sign Jeff Adams

When Derek Newton was carted off the field with two leg injuries Monday night, you figured things were grim. When it was later reported Newton suffered two torn patella tendons, it was even worse than you imagined. Newton’s season is over and his playing career is in jeopardy. It’s going to be a long, hard road back, and I wish him the absolute best of luck.

Although that’s a tremendously difficult development to stomach, the Texans can’t hit pause. Their season marches on. They needed to make a roster move, and they did it today, sending Newton to Injured Reserve and re-signing Jeff Adams.

Texans fans should be familiar with Adams, as he got playing time when the offensive line was awash with injuries early last season before he suffered a season-ending injury of his own against the Panthers. Coincidentally, the injury Adams suffered last year was also a torn patella tendon.

Adams was in training camp again with the Texans this year but didn’t make the initial 2016 53-man roster. He is, however, presumably familiar with the Texans’ blocking schemes, which would seem to make him a preferable candidate over a street free agent with no such prior knowledge. Adams should serve as a backup tackle, with Chris Clark starting for the Texans in Newton’s absence.