The Houston Chronicle's John McClain is adding finality to an earlier report by ESPN's Adam Schefter that Texans linebacker Mario Williams' torn pectoral could end his season. According to McClain, Williams will have surgery to repair the tear later this week and will be done for the year.
McClain also reported that Brooks Reed, a rookie from Arizona, will replace Williams. Against Oakland, Reed had four tackles and two quarterback hits.
Williams last play of the season was his fifth sack of the year since moving to linebacker from defensive end in Houston's new 3-4 scheme. McClain noted that most of WIlliams' teammates didn't notice his absence initially because of the Texans' personnel rotation:
Around that time, as if by design, Williams whisked by the gathered media in the hall on a golf cart driven by a team employee. He didn't seem to be in any discomfort, but an MRI on Monday morning revealed the damage.
It was surreal, as were the accounts by his teammates of what happened. Because the Texans use a rotation in the defensive front, most of the defensive backs didn't even realize Williams was hurt.
"As the game is going on, you know, you start looking around and thinking, 'Where's Mario?'" safety Danieal Manning said.