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Texans edge defender Mercilus out for the season

HOUSTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 10: Whitney Mercilus #59 of the Houston Texans watches the video board in the third quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars at NRG Stadium on September 10, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)

  • Houston Texans head coach Bill O’Brien confirmed this afternoon edge defender Whitney Mercilus will miss the remainder of the season after tearing his pectoral muscle during their Week 5 game against the Chiefs Sunday night.
  • Mercilus was off to an average start this season, earning the 46th best grade among edge defenders at 74.3 overall. He hasn’t been his usual self rushing the passer, producing a pass-rush productivity of 8.1 which ranks 64th among edge defenders, considerably lower than the 11.5 figure he produced in the 2016 season.
  • Despite the slow start, Mercilus is entrenched as one of the best edge defenders in the league, producing back to back top-15 rankings positionally including an eighth ranked 2016 season in which he earned an overall grade of 87.6.
  • Brennan Scarlett will likely take Mercilus’ place in the starting lineup. On 96 snaps this season Scarlett has not fared well, earning an overall grade of just 50.8 which ranks 84th among edge defenders.

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