CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Houston Texans had two players carted off the field on a day in which their defense dominated the Carolina Panthers in a joint practice in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Texans starting right tackle Braden Smith and reserve defensive end Ali Gaye were injured on plays that occurred nearly simultaneously on adjacent fields.
Texans coach DeMeco Ryans offered no update on the nature or the extent of the injuries when speaking to
reporters after practice.
Both teams plan to rest their starters when they meet in Friday night's preseason game.
Action was halted temporarily on both practice fields after Smith and Gaye went down within seconds of each other. They were initially helped onto separate carts. The carts later converged and both players were taken to the locker room on one cart, sitting side by side.
Smith signed a two-year, $25 million contract as an unrestricted free agent earlier this offseason. He started 105 games during his eight seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, including 13 in 2025.
Gaye came into the league as an undrafted free agent in 2023 and has nine tackles and one sack during his career.
The Texans' front seven, led by defensive end Danielle Hunter, repeatedly found its way past Carolina's injury-depleted offensive line with relative ease, resulting in several plays that were blown dead and ruled sacks. There is no live tackling in joint practices.
“It was pretty lopsided, I'll be honest,” Panthers coach Dave Canales said.
The Panthers are playing without starting offensive tackles Ickey Ekwonu and Taylor Moton.
Ekownu is working his way back from a knee injury sustained in last season's playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams while Moton, the team's most experienced lineman and leader, is dealing with blood clots in his lungs.
Both players are expected to miss Carolina's Sept. 13 season opener against Chicago forcing the Panthers to go with rookie Monroe Freeling at right tackle and veteran Rasheed Walker at left tackle.
Canales said overall he's excited about where the offense is at this point in the preseason, but added “today did not show that. There were some flashes and some nice throws and catches, but that was a good (Texans defense) group.”
Ryans was pleased with his team's overall effort.
“I like the way our guys showed up from start to finish today,” Ryans said. “We executed really well and guys played really physical.”
Hunter was a force.
The 31-year-old pass rusher would have been credited with at least three sacks on Wednesday had formal statistics been recorded.
Hunter had 15 sacks last season and was a second-team All-Pro for the second time in his career. He has 114 1/2 sacks and has been selected to the Pro Bowl five times.
“Danielle is a problem,” Ryans said with a laugh. “He continues to be a problem. That is why I love having him and Will (Anderson Jr.). When you have two guys off the edge who can be as disruptive as they are, it makes it hard on offenses and the timing they want to operate on. Danielle was in the backfield a lot."
Panthers quarterback Bryce Young said he's not overly concerned with the team's lack of pass protection and has plenty of faith in the offensive line. He views the practice as a learning opportunity.
“They got after us ... and we have to be better,” Young said. “There will be a lot of great film out there to watch, a lot of stuff to grow from. ... It's not fun on a day like this, but that is the challenge now for us — making sure we watch the film and grow from it."
Canales admitted the Panthers have some adjustments to make.
“I try not to take it all in a microcosm, but if we want to be good we have to be able to play against teams like this," Canales said.
___
See AP’s full NFL coverage here
