Former Florida QB Graham Mertz injured in preseason game; Texans fear torn ACL
By Andrew Olson
Published:
Graham Mertz is dealing with an injury again. The Houston Texans fear it could be a torn ACL for the former Florida quarterback.
“He was running there towards the sideline and, unfortunately, non-contact (injury),” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said after the preseason game against the Los Angeles Chargers. “We’re evaluating him. But we’re looking at a knee injury, an ACL, so we’ll get that update and see what happens.”
#Texans third quarterback Graham Mertz walks off field after grabbing knee following scramble @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/JgU5fbjvmI
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) August 14, 2026
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Mertz is in Year 2 with Houston. The Texans selected him No. 197 overall in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Mertz did not see regular-season game action as a rookie as the team’s third-string quarterback.
If confirmed to be a torn ACL, it would be the second of Mertz’s career. His final season at Florida was cut short to just 5 games after Mertz tore his ACL against Tennessee,
Mertz spent the 2023 and ’24 seasons at Florida after 4 seasons with the Wisconsin Badgers (2019-22). In 2023, with the Gators, Mertz posted the best numbers of his career, completing 72.9% of his passes for 2,903 yards and 20 touchdowns to just 3 interceptions, adding 4 rushing scores.
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaign of Fred Taylor.
