Texans Right Tackle Braden Smith Has Plantar Fascia Injury, Could Miss Weeks

Texans right tackle Braden Smith avoided a worst-case outcome after being carted off the field during a joint practice with the Carolina Panthers earlier this week.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, as reported by Yahoo Sports, Smith suffered an injury to his plantar fascia. He could miss a few weeks but the injury is not considered long-term.

Smith signed a two-year, $20 million contract with Houston this past offseason after eight seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, where he was a second-round pick in 2018 out of Auburn. He turned 30 in March and has played in double-digit games every season of his career despite dealing with injuries in each of those years. He has 110 games of NFL experience.

The timing matters because the Texans open their regular season against the Buffalo Bills. That game is 18 days after Smith went down in practice, making it possible he could return in time for Week 1 if his recovery goes smoothly.

If Smith cannot play, the Texans would likely turn to either 33-year-old Trent Brown or third-year pro Blake Fisher at right tackle. Fisher has played 855 total snaps in his first two seasons and has mostly been a liability in pass protection.

The Texans have spent heavily to rebuild their offensive line over the past two seasons, making Smith's availability a priority heading into the opener.

Smith's injury is one of several notable preseason injuries that teams are monitoring as Week 1 approaches. CBS Sports noted the second week of the preseason is now over, meaning most starters have shifted focus entirely to regular-season preparation. Among the players likely to play in Week 1 are Ja'Marr Chase, who said a recent hyperextension during practice was minor, and Rueben Bain Jr., who suffered an AC sprain that ESPN's Adam Schefter described as "nothing serious."

The Texans will continue to monitor Smith's status through the week before their Bills matchup.