In each of the past two seasons, the Houston Texans have lost in the second round of the AFC playoffs. What would help Houston get over the hump in the postseason?

How about a healthy Jimmie Ward?

In each of the past two seasons, the defensive back has been on injured reserve by the time the Texans got to the playoffs.

“It’ll definitely be important to get Jimmie back,” Houston coach DeMeco Ryans said while attending the NFL Scouting Combine. “Going back and watching the season and seeing some of the plays that Jimmie made, he’s a great leader, he’s a playmaker when he’s out on the field. He just has to stay healthy and be out there longer for us to impact the game the way that we know Jimmie can impact the game.”

Ward is recovering from a foot injury sustained against the Kansas City Chiefs on Dec. 21 that required surgery.

A former Davidson High School standout, Ward made 48 tackles, including 32 solo stops, recorded five tackles for loss and intercepted two passes in 10 games in 2024. Ward returned one of the interceptions 65 yards for a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans on Nov. 24 for the third pick-six of his career.

Ward’s loss was a double blow for the Texans because he had moved from safety to handle the nickel-corner work after Jalen Pitre went down in the 12th game of the season.

Injuries also limited Ward to 10 games in the 2023 season, his first with Houston after he followed Ryans to the Texans in free agency. Ryans had been the defensive coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers before he took the Texans’ top job.

Ward spent his first nine seasons with the 49ers after joining San Francisco in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft. A cornerback, nickel back and safety, Ward played in one Super Bowl and three NFC Championship games with the 49ers.

But injuries also were part of Ward’s story with San Francisco as he missed 41 of the 49ers’ 156 games during his time with the team. He was available for all nine of San Francisco’s postseason games.

Ward signed a two-year, $13 million contract to join Houston for the 2023 season. Even though Ward missed seven regular-season and two playoff games in his first year with the Texans, Houston signed him to a one-year contract extension after the 2023 campaign that has kept him with the team for 2025.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.