Ed Reed no longer starting at safety for Houston Texans
The Houston Texans' depth chart still lists former Ravens free safety Ed Reed as a starter.
However, the former NFL Defensive Player of the Year came off the bench during the Texans' loss to the Indianapolis Colts last Sunday, replaced by Shiloh Keo in the starting lineup.
Signed to a three-year, $15 million contract in March after leaving the Ravens, Reed has just 16 tackles, no interceptions and no forced fumbles and has allowed numerous big plays.
Advertisement
Reed, who's scheduled to make $4 million in base salary next season, has been operating primarily out of sub packages in recent weeks. The 35-year-old intercepted four passes last season in his final year with the Ravens.
Reed played 32 snaps against the Colts, while Keo played 49 snaps.
Advertisement
Texans interim coach and defensive coordinator Wade Phillips dodged reporters' questions Thursday when asked if Reed is still a starter.
"Whether the sixth man or the starter or not, it's just like a lot of other positions, it depends on what the offense comes out in, in the first series or so," Phillips said. "Sometimes they come out in four-wide and so-and-so isn't in there and you say, 'He's not a starter,' and vice versa. It's really dictated by our packages and what we do as to who's actually playing the first play of the game."