Nightmare Footage Surfaces Of Houston Texans QB In Complete Disbelief After Suffering Non-Contact Injury — Team Fears His ACL Is Torn [VIDEO]
This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.
The worst thing that could have happened to Graham Mertz went down on Thursday night. The Houston Texans quarterback suffered a severe knee injury during Thursday night’s preseason opener against the Los Angeles Chargers. Mertz scrambled for 9 yards near the sideline on the final play of the first half and immediately grabbed his knee. He limped off the field and headed straight to the locker room before halftime.
Because of his injury, backup quarterback Davis Mills had to come in and finish the contest. Before leaving, Mertz completed 4 of 7 passes for 23 yards and rushed three times for 15 yards.
Graham Mertz Injury Sequence Captured on Camera
On the play in question, Graham Mertz attempted to gain yardage near the sideline when his knee appeared to buckle without any defensive contact involved. Furthermore, the quarterback immediately reached down to grab the affected area while remaining on the ground for several moments as trainers approached him.
Meanwhile, his reaction to what happened has been captured online. Mertz could be seen with his hands on his head as he gingerly walked off the field. He then kneeled down with his hands on his knees as he stood in full disbelief.
Mertz’s Status Raises Immediate Roster Questions
Houston Texans quarterback Graham Mertz was battling to secure the QB3 roster spot behind C.J. Stroud and Davis Mills. Mertz entered training camp as the primary third-string option trying to lock down a permanent spot on the active roster. He spent most of his 2025 rookie season on the injured list after joining the team as a sixth-round draft pick out of Florida.
Therefore, Mertz desperately needed the playing time to show what he had. Head coach DeMeco Ryans noted concern over the knee issue postgame, and reports indicate the team fears a season-ending ACL tear for the young quarterback. The injury leaves the Texans thin behind Stroud and Mills, potentially forcing the front office to work out additional quarterback depth.
