Houston Texans’ Jimmie Ward Faces Felony Assault Charge

Houston, Texas – Jimmie Ward, a prominent safety for the Houston Texans, is currently dealing with serious legal troubles following an incident at his home early Thursday morning. According to reports from the Montgomery County Jail, Ward was arrested around 5:30 a.m. after being accused of choking someone during a dispute. Details of the complainant have not been released, but an emergency protective order has been filed as a result of the situation.

Ward was released later that afternoon on a $30,000 bond. Attempts to reach his agent for comments were unsuccessful, and it remains unclear if he has retained legal representation. In a statement from the Texans, the senior director of communications, Omar Majzoub, mentioned that the team is aware of the situation and is currently gathering more information. As of now, there is no further comment from the organization.

The 33-year-old player joined the Texans in the 2023 offseason, signing a contract that extends through 2025. He has been a critical player for the team, helping the Texans improve from a 3-13-1 record in 2022 to an 11-8 playoff team in 2023. Ward is well-known for his leadership on the field, having been named a team captain for both the 2023 and 2024 seasons. During his last season, he recorded 48 tackles and two interceptions before suffering a foot injury that required surgery.

Currently, Ward is nursing his injury and has missed offseason workouts, including the recently held mandatory minicamp. The Texans have added safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson this year, which could lead to a shift in Ward’s role moving forward.

This incident could potentially violate the NFL’s personal conduct policy, which prohibits players from engaging in actions that could damage the league’s reputation. The NFL has also commented, stating they are in contact with the club and monitoring the situation, but have no additional information at this time.

As the Texans gear up for the upcoming season, the legal issues surrounding Ward bring uncertainty to his role with the team and add pressure on the coaching staff to navigate this situation carefully.