Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio said the team is letting the legal process play out while staying in communication with the league about the status of safety Jimmie Ward, who was arrested last month on a felony assault family violence charge.
Ward was in the building as the Texans reported to training camp, but Caserio said the veteran would not have been taking part in on-field drills anyway as he recovers from a foot injury that required season-ending surgery.
Ward, 33, was arrested at his home in Magnolia, Texas, around 5:30 a.m. on June 12 and held on a third-degree felony charge. He was released on a $30,000 bond with his next court date scheduled for Aug. 13. He could be suspended by the league.
“Working through that. Kind of let the legal process take care of itself,” Caserio said Wednesday. “We have been in contact with the league. We will work with the league. We will be compliant on our end, do the best we can.
“So I think it’s day-to-day, but kind of let that process take care of itself. Whatever the outcome is we’ll handle it accordingly.”
Ward recorded 48 tackles and two interceptions — one returned for a touchdown — in 10 games (all starts) last season. He has totaled 549 tackles, 10 interceptions — three returned for a touchdown — in 126 career games (99 starts) with the San Francisco 49ers (2014-22) and Texans.
“It’s unfortunate any time something like that happens and comes out in the news and that happens to one of your players,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “Jimmy is a guy that I’ve known the longest. Since I first started in the NFL I’ve worked with Jimmy. I know the type of guy he is, and we’ll just let the legal situation play itself out.”
Ward was placed on the team’s physically unable to perform list Wednesday along with several other players, including running back Joe Mixon, who has been sidelined this offseason by an ankle injury.
“Not going to put any timetables on anything. We’ll deal with it,” Caserio said. “We have 90 players here. Some are able to practice and some aren’t. At some point they will be able to practice. So as far as what it looks like once the regular season starts, probably a long way away from that.”
Mixon’s absence will provide more reps to a running back depth chart that includes former Cleveland Brown Nick Chubb.
“Any time a guy gets another opportunity another place, you’re going to have a chip on your shoulder,” Ryans said. “I think Nick has done it in the league for a long time. Happy to have him. Excited to see him just continue to gel with our guys.
“It’s just a matter of him continuing to gel with the guys in the locker room and do what he does: run the football, play football the way he plays football. It’s impressive to watch.”