STRONG’S SEASON OVER.
INDIANAPOLIS — The Texans on Saturday placed Jaelen Strong on injured reserve, officially ending the wide receiver’s injury-plagued season.
Strong suffered a serious sprained ankle earlier this season against Detroit. He returned to practice this week but was limited and unable to reach a point where the coaching and medical staffs felt comfortable lifting restrictions on his activity.
Earlier last week, Strong said the ankle “felt good.”
Strong, a third-round draft pick from Arizona State, finished the sea- son with 14 catches for 131 yards and no touchdowns. He was supplanted on the depth chart by rookie wide receivers Will Fuller and Braxton Miller.
Without Strong and Miller already ruled out with a bruised and sprained shoulder, the Texans have three wide receivers available for Sunday’s game at Indianapolis — DeAndre Hopkins, Fuller and Keith Mumphery. They can use rookie tight end Stephen Anderson, a hybrid converted former wide receiver from California in the slot.
As a rookie last season, Strong caught 14 passes for 161 yards and three touchdowns.
The Texans replaced Strong on the active roster by promoting cornerback Denzel Rice from the practice squad. They need depth on defense with starting cornerback Johnathan Joseph questionable with cracked ribs and a bruised lung.