Outside linebacker Brooks Reed will miss an unspecified period of time with what he and Texans coach Gary Kubiak called a "significant" groin injury on Monday afternoon.
According to multiple reports, Reed could miss anywhere from 3-6 weeks. He was injured while sprinting to cover a running back in the first quarter last Thursday at Detroit.
"(It's) pretty disappointing, but you know, these things happen," Reed said Monday in the Texans' locker room at Reliant Stadium. "I'm just trying to just rehab as much as possible and just be back for the end of the regular season. I'm just looking to get better and get back on the field as fast as possible."
With Reed out, rookie Whitney Mercilus will start at weakside linebacker. Connor Barwin will move from the weakside and take Reed's place as the starting strongside linebacker. Second-year outside linebacker Bryan Braman, a special teams ace, will rotate with Barwin and Mercilus.
Reed has 2.5 sacks this season in 11 games. A 2011 second-round draft pick out of Arizona, he set the franchise rookie record last season with 6.0 sacks. Reed and defensive end J.J. Watt tied for the NFL lead with 3.5 sacks in the postseason.
"He's going to miss some time," Kubiak said. "Is that two weeks? I don't know, but he's going to miss some time right now."
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