Texans CB Gareon Conley done for year after second ankle surgery

Texans cornerback Gareon Conley will undergo additional ankle surgery, per a club announcement. With that, he’ll remain on injured reserve for the remainder of the season. 

It’s been a trying year for Conley, who was looking to build his case heading into free agency. After a rocky tenure in Oakland, Conley managed 11 pass breakups for Houston last year. That gave him the second-highest total on the team, just two shy of team leader Jonathan Joseph. Later, the Texans declined his $10.24M fifth-year option, giving him the opportunity to catch up with the ever-climbing cornerback market.

Then came the ankle issues. Conley’s arthroscopic ankle surgery went bad, and he hasn’t responded to a number of supplementary treatments. The Ohio State product was trying to avoid surgery with hope of returning this year, but that ship has sailed. Now, Conley will focus on rehab as he watches the 4-7 Texans from a distance.

The Texans could really use Conley, too, since Bradley Roby will be serving a suspension for the rest of the season. Without Roby and Conley, they’re left with Vernon Hargreaves and Phillip Gaines as their top CBs.