Graham Mertz ACL injury clouds Texans QB depth
By Michael
Graham Mertz ACL injury: what we know
Graham Mertz, QB for the Houston Texans, is believed to have suffered a torn ACL during the Texans' preseason opener against the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday, August 13, 2026. Head coach DeMeco Ryans confirmed an ACL injury and said the team is waiting on further evaluation before a definitive diagnosis.
The key word right now is "believe." Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Texans believe it is a tear, but additional testing is expected to confirm. Ryans' own statement stops short of calling it a confirmed tear.
What this means for the Texans depth chart
If testing confirms the ACL tear, Mertz would almost certainly miss the entire season. That changes the Texans' quarterback situation heading into the regular season. Watch for Houston to make roster moves at the position once the diagnosis is official.
For fantasy managers in dynasty leagues, this is a situation to monitor closely. A confirmed ACL tear effectively removes Mertz from any 2026 relevance. Check the Texans' QB depth chart for who moves up once the team makes a formal announcement.