HOUSTON (SportsRadio 610) -- Texans linebackers Whitney Mercilus and Dylan Cole were deemed to be in close enough contact with Jacob Martin for all three of them to be ineligible to play in Sunday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Martin, who tested positive for COVID-19, has started a 10-day self-isolation period. The league’s protocols sideline Mercilus and Cole for at least five days, knocking them out of the game Sunday.
Without those three, the Texans are thin at both inside and outside linebacker positions.
Mercilus and Martin play a significant number of snaps on the outside, along with Brennan Scarlett.
Cole is a reserve at inside linebacker, where the Texans already lost Benardrick McKinney to a season-ending shoulder injury a few weeks ago.
The Texans shut their facility down Thursday because of Martin’s positive test. He is the second Texans player to test positive for COVID-19 in as many weeks.
Offensive lineman Max Scharping tested positive last week and began his 10-day isolation period.
Interim head coach Romeo Crennel said Thursday afternoon both Scharping and Martin are feeling well, with neither experiencing major symptoms.
Whether the Texans actually travel to Florida to play the Jaguars is still in the air, Crennel said.
He hopes to have practice Friday, but that will depend on testing results, and whether the NFL deems it safe to play.