Houston Texan won’t have corner Gareon Conley for the start of the 2020 NFL season. The team announced on Monday that they have place Conley on the Injured Reserve list, meaning that the 25-year-old player will be forced to miss at least three games.
Conley underwent ankle surgery during the offseason and reportedly had a slow return to action during training camp. He was reportedly still set for a starting role, but the recovery setback made Texans re-consider and allow him more time for rehab.
Under the new rules, players on IR are eligible to return after three weeks instead of the usual eight.
Without Conley on board, Texans are expected to turn to 2019’s second-round pick Lonnie Johnson, who had a strong showing during training camp and even made a case to become a starter. Besides Johnson, veterans Bradley Roby and Vernon Hargreaves are also expected to get an expanded role.
Gareon Conley spent the first part of his NFL career with Oakland Raiders, who took him in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft. However, the Raiders weren’t satisfied with his development and ended up trading him midway through the 2019 season to Houston in exchange for a third-rounder.
Conley’s career stats include 94 tackles, 29 pass deflections, four interceptions, and one defensive touchdown.
