In what has largely been a disappointing week, as the Houston Texans fell to 0-3, the team did get some positive news. Veteran safety Jimmie Ward took a significant step toward returning to play, as he has officially been removed from the Commissioner Exempt List after a Montgomery County grand jury declined to indict him on domestic violence charges, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
For the Texans, it’s an important step as the team continues to navigate a the early part of a winless season. Houston has already had its fair share of injuries in the secondary, so his eventual return would feel even more significant. Rookie Jaylin Smith was recently placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury, and Derek Stingley Jr. left Sunday’s game against Jacksonville with an injury of his own. That’s left the secondary short-handed, and having Ward take a step back toward availability is encouraging news. He been seen as one of the most experienced leaders in the Texans’ secondary since joining the team, and his absence has been felt early.
While Ward’s legal situation has been resolved with no indictment, his status under the NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy is still under review. That means a potential league discipline could still come down, even if he’s now eligible to resume team activities.
For now, Ward remains on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform list as he continues recovering from the foot injury that ended his 2024 season early. Until he’s activated from PUP, he can’t play in games, but being cleared from the exempt list is the first hurdle toward getting back on the field.
The Texans defense has been one of the team’s bright spots to start the season, but the unit has been asked to carry the load with the offense struggling to score. If Ward can return healthy in the near future, it adds another proven playmaker and leader to a defense that will need every piece available to help Houston climb out of this early 0-3 hole.