The Houston Texans had a great cornerback situation on paper heading into the 2020 season.
Bradley Roby was going to be the playmaker on one side, and Gareon Conley was going to provide a lockdown presence on the other. Opposing quarterbacks were going to have to choose their own adventure when dropping back and going against Houston’s top-two cornerbacks.
An offseason ankle surgery derailed Conley’s plans, and now the former 2017 Oakland Raiders first-round pick from Ohio State is struggling to see the field in 2020.
Secondary coach D’Anton Lynn has no timetable for Conley’s debut.
“I wish I could tell you,” Lynn said. “That’s definitely a better question for the trainers. I know in my talks with Gareon, he is frustrated. He is working. But really that’s up to God at this point; it’s in God’s hands. He’s doing everything he can on his end. I know the trainers are, too. Everybody is frustrated.”
The Texans have had to find other options opposite of Roby. Vernon Hargreaves has stepped up and started seven games for the Texans. However, when injuries affect Houston, they are no longer pulling from the depths of their cornerback reserve.
In Week 7’s 35-20 loss to the Green Bay Packers, Roby injured his ankle and knee on the first series, and the Texans inserted Phillip Gaines to cover receiver Davante Adams man-to-man. The three-time Pro Bowler torched the Texans with 13 catches for 196 yards and two touchdowns.
Maybe it would have been different if Conley were available for that game.
“Obviously it has affected our defense,” Lynn said. “He’s a guy we counted on coming into the season to be one of our core players in the secondary. I think we saw what he was capable of doing last year, and we expected a jump in play coming into this year, just now having knowledge of the system.
“Any time you lose a starting-caliber corner before the season even starts, it’s obviously difficult.”
The Texans will have to find other solutions apart from Conley as the 25-year-old works his way onto the field.