For the Houston Texans, the final stretch of preparation before the regular season was meant to be about building chemistry, settling position battles, and getting the roster ready. Instead, Wednesday brought a scary reminder of how quickly those plans can change when an offseason addition suddenly was unable to continue.

“#Texans RT Braden Smith, who signed a 2-year, $20M contract this offseason as a free agent, was carted off at practice today during a joint session with the #Panthers,” wrote NFL insider Ari Meirov on his X account.

The offensive tackle Braden Smith was forced out of Wednesday’s joint practice with the Carolina Panthers after suffering a leg injury. Smith and defensive end Ali Gaye were both unable to put weight on their injured legs and were carted away for medical examination.

The incident, as per Meirov’s reports, immediately raised concerns because Smith had only recently arrived in Houston as a major offseason addition. The Texans signed the former Indianapolis Colts tackle to a two-year deal worth $20 million base value and up to $25 million in total value, including $13.5 million guaranteed.

Smith’s injury is concerning because the Texans brought him to add experience and stability to the offensive line. The veteran tackle spent the 2025 season with the Colts, appearing in 13 games and making one start at right tackle, moving to Houston this offseason.

The investment showed how much Houston believed Smith could contribute to protecting its quarterback and strengthening the offense.

Still, Smith’s role was not completely settled entering the final week of the preseason. Trent Brown started at right tackle when C.J. Stroud and Houston’s first-team offense opened the Aug. 20 preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders, showing the Texans were still evaluating their best offensive-line combination. Smith later worked with the second unit after Stroud left the game.

Houston’s unofficial depth chart also listed Smith and Brown as co-options at right tackle ahead of the Panthers joint practice. Smith had received a larger share of first-team practice reps during camp, but Brown’s place with the starting group against Las Vegas underscored that the competition remained open. If Smith’s injury keeps him out, Brown gives Houston an experienced in-house alternative, though the Texans had not yet identified a permanent starter.

The timing can’t be more frustrating. The Texans are approaching the final preseason game against the Carolina Panthers, with roster decisions and starting-unit evaluations becoming very important.

The team is already dealing with injuries at several positions, including Tank Dell (WR) working through a knee injury, Brevin Jordan (TE) having a knee injury, and Jayden Higgins (WR) suffering a torn ACL during joint practice, which makes the health an even bigger concern heading into the regular season.

Ali Gaye was also carted off around the same time, turning what should have been an important preparation session into an injury-filled day for Texans. Gaye entered the league as an Undrafted free agent (UDFA) in 2023 with a record of nine tackles and one sack during his career.

The veteran right tackle’s absence would force Houston to reconsider its plan at that position if the injury is serious. The offensive line is valuable because the timing and communication between linemen can directly impact both the running back’s and the QB’s ability to operate comfortably in the pocket.

The initial reports did not provide a specific diagnosis or how long Smith could be sidelined. That means the Texans and their fans will have to wait for further updates before getting to the full extent of the setback.

For a team with legit aspirations of entering the 2026 season, losing a newly signed starting tackle would be a great blow. Until Houston receives a clear medical update, the focus will be on Smith’s condition.

The Texans will play against the Panthers on Friday night at Bank of America Stadium for the preseason finale.

On the other hand, this was not the only injury concern to emerge so close to the regular season. Across the league, two other notable setbacks surfaced over the past two days, including one during a preseason joint practice.

NFL teams face tough call as unexpected player injuries rise in two days

On Tuesday, August 26, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had a legitimate scare during their joint practice with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Rookie defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr. upper-body injury during competitive team drills at Jacksonville’s Miller Electric Center.

The Buccaneers kept Bain out of Wednesday’s final practice. While that prompted understandable questions, the initial update brought much better news for Todd Bowles, Jason Licht and the organization.

“Sources: Buccaneers first-round pick Reuben Bain Jr. suffered an AC sprain, but it is said to be ‘nothing serious’, and he is expected to be ready Week 1 at Cincinnati,” Adam Schefter wrote on X.

NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport called it a “sigh of relief for the promising pass rusher.” That is precisely how Tampa Bay should view it. What looked like a potentially worrisome moment now seems unlikely to interfere with Bain’s NFL debut.

“Even if it’s classified as a mild AC sprain, those can typically take 1-2 weeks to heal. There are still 18 days until that season-opening game between the Bucs and Bengals, so Tampa Bay should feel confident that it’ll have its top pick available by then,” Pewter Report’s Bailey Adams wrote of Reuben Bain Jr.’s injury.

Tampa Bay finished last in quarterback pressure rate last season and surrendered the NFL’s 11th-highest offensive rate, leaving Bain with a legitimate opportunity to bring a needed spark to the pass rush.

On the other side, the New York Giants received much harsher news that same day. During one-on-one drills, Calvin Austin III suffered a right knee injury that forced him off the field.

“#Giants WR Calvin Austin III suffered a major knee injury during Tuesday’s practice that includes a torn ACL and will sideline him for the entire 2026 NFL season,” NFL insider for The 33rd Team New York, Ari Meirov, reported on X.

Austin’s injury initially “didn’t look good,” according to ESPN sources, and Giants owner John Mara consoled him while he waited for the cart. Further testing made the situation even more serious.

“The injury to #Giants WR Calvin Austin III includes multiple torn ligaments, with a long road to recovery ahead,” Meirov further reported. “It looked gruesome on the practice field, and all the follow-up testing confirmed the severity of the injury and more.”

The setback is particularly cruel for the 27-year-old, after he arrived in New York this offseason looking to restart his career. Pittsburgh drafted him in 2022, and he spent three seasons with the Steelers, appearing in 48 games and making 16 starts before signing a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Giants that included incentives tied to his playing time, receptions, and receiving yards.

Let’s not forget that Austin has already experienced the frustration of losing his rookie season to a preseason Lisfranc sprain. This new injury now brings an unwelcome pause to a year that was meant to offer a clean reset. For now, with Calvin unavailable, it looks like Braxton Berrios received an expanded role alongside the starting unit.

With the season less than two weeks away, the Buccaneers, Giants, and Texans are confronting very different levels of concern. Bain appears on track for Week 1, Austin faces a long recovery, and Houston still awaits a clear update on Braden Smith after his injury at Wednesday’s joint practice.