Gipson fights through painful back injury
When Texans veteran safety Tashaun Gipson was sidelined for two games this season, it was for a significant reason.
Gipson was out against the Raiders and Jaguars due to a transverse process fracture in his back, a painful injury involving the fracture of wing-like bones on the side of the vertebra in the spine.
Although there’s generally not a risk involved with that type of injury, the severe pain and lack of mobility are serious. That ended Gipson’s durability streak of 64 consecutive games that dated back to his time with the Jaguars and Browns.
“It’s terrible,” said Gipson, who signed a three-year, $22.5 million contract in March. “You still play with those things, but those things don’t truly heal until you get rest. It’s a struggle, obviously.
“It’s a weird injury. You don’t realize the kind of impact that those small, minor bones really have.”
Gipson returned to play against the Ravens but dealt with heavy discomfort during a 41-7 blowout loss. He’s no longer on the injury report and is feeling good heading into a Sunday night game against the Patriots.
“I missed the two games, then the bye week and came back for Baltimore and was in a great deal of pain,” Gipson said. “It’s more of a pain management thing. The only thing that can make it worse is the impact that caused the injury, if you duplicate that.”
Because of the physical nature of the position Gipson plays, throwing around his body is a job requirement. He can’t finesse it.
“Every play is like a car accident,” Gipson said. “Playing safety, I can’t be timid. I have to bring it. If not, it’s not really a good look. If I played corner, I could get my Deion Sanders on. It’s a nagging injury.”