Houston Texans Cornerback Bradley Roby Placed on COVID-19 Reserve List

The Houston Texans #1 cornerback, Bradley Roby, was suspended last season for six games due to use of a banned substance. That suspension spills over into week 1 of the 2021 campaign.

Now, Roby is out for a significant portion of the preseason as well due to the nefarious COVID-19 virus.

Aaron Wilson

Texans veteran cornerback Bradley Roby has been placed on the reserve-COVID-19 list.

Roby has tested positive for COVID-19, according to a league source not authorized to speak publicly.

Roby served five games out of a six-game suspension for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy, ending his season last year.

Roby and former Texans wide receiver Will Fuller and former Texans cornerback A.J. Bouye all tested positive for a banned substance given to them by a Houston area medical professional, according to league sources. Roby said at the time in a statement that he didn’t know the supplement he took contained the banned substance.

Signed to a three-year, $36 million contract before last season, Roby lost $1.511 million in pay for the remainder of the season as the discipline from the league cost him five game checks and a weekly $31,250 per-game active roster bonus. Suspended for the first game of this season against the Jacksonville Jaguars against his former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer, Roby loses $590,074 in total pay this season from his $8.941 million base salary.

Without Roby, it’s almost a given that Vernon Hargreaves, the newest in a line of not very good Texans cornerbacks the team kept for too long (Brice McCain anyone?), will see significant playing time.

When on the field last season, Hargreaves was targeted 93 times (tied for 5th most in the league) and allowed 68 receptions (tied for 3rd most) according to Pro Football Focus.

His not so stellar performance earned him a PFF overall grade of 41.2, with a coverage grade of 37.3.

Comparatively, Bradley Roby was targeted 37 times (tied for 102nd most) and allowed 23 receptions (109th most) which earned him a 71.5 overall grade and a 72.2 pass coverage score.

Hopefully Roby is back to perfect health before week 2.

Get well soon Bradley. We need you!