Brooks Reed will be fully healthy when the Houston Texans begin OTAs this week, despite undergoing groin surgery in late January. Reed missed four games last year with a torn groin he sustained on Thanksgiving Day against the Detroit Lions. He said he is "100 percent" to participate in the team's offseason activities. Reed has been running and lifting the last three weeks, according to CSN Houston.
Brooks Reed injury update: Texans LB back at ‘100 percent’
Brooks Reed is healthy and ready to help the Texans, whether it’s at inside or outside linebacker.
Bob Levey
“I didn’t think about it then,” he said. “It shouldn’t be anything to worry about. It happened in the past and got over it. Worked hard rehabbing it so we’re at 100 percent right now and looking to improve during OTAs.”
Reed played at outside linebacker last season, but could move inside next to Brian Cushing this year after the Texans took LSU's Sam Montgomery and UConn's Trevardo Williams in the 2013 NFL Draft. According to Reed, the transition should be smooth. Linebackers in Wade Phillips' 3-4 defense play relatively similar roles, and Reed gained experience playing inside last season.
“I did a lot of that last year,” Reed said of playing inside. “Many people didn’t notice it but there’s times where I just went in at middle ‘backer so it’s a possibility. It really all depends on how (the draft picks) perform the next couple months.”
Whether the rookies develop into reliable outside linebackers remains to be seen. The Montgomery selection in particular was controversial. He was considered a prototypical 4-3 defensive end entering the draft, with many saying he lacked the lateral agility to play off the line.
However the linebacker corps shakes out, at least Reed is healthy and poised to once again make a strong contribution to the Texans’ defense.
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