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Graham Mertz suffers season-ending ACL injury in Texans' preseason opener

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 17, 2026, 3:01 PM

Last updated Aug 17, 2026

Graham Mertz suffers season-ending ACL injury in Texans' preseason opener

Summary

Graham Mertz, former Florida quarterback, will miss the entire 2026 NFL season after suffering an ACL tear during the Houston Texans' preseason opener against the Los Angeles Chargers. Mertz sustained the injury while scrambling in the second quarter of a game that ended with a 27-7 loss for Houston. Previously, Mertz was third on the Texans' quarterback depth chart and has faced multiple injuries in his career, including a prior ACL tear and a broken collarbone. Following the injury, the team signed veteran quarterback Brett Rypien. Mertz has yet to see action during the regular season since being drafted.

Source Links

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Status Watch

•Mertz tore his ACL in the preseason opener against the Chargers
•He completed 4-of-7 passes for 23 yards before the injury
•The Texans signed veteran Brett Rypien after placing Mertz on injured reserve
•Mertz's previous injuries have limited his NFL opportunities
•He was a former standout quarterback at Florida before joining the Texans

Latest Updates

3:01 PMYahoo Sports — Ex-Gator Graham Mertz suffers season-ending injury in preseason debut

What they're saying

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Former Florida quarterback Graham Mertz will miss the 2026 season after suffering another ACL tear during the Texans' preseason opener.
— Yahoo Sports

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