M.J.

Stewart

His backup, M.J. Stewart, went down with a shoulder injury right after Ward left the game. Stewart was also listed as questionable to return, though neither player looks particularly likely to retake the field at any point today.

The deal apparently includes $3 million guaranteed. A special teams ace signed away from the Browns last spring, Stewart appeared in all 17 games last season. He also played 178 largely effective snaps on defense, but the Texans won’t be looking to expand the 27-year-old’s role there.

The Texans just lost Justin Reid to the Chiefs, leaving them desperate for passable safety play. Stewart won’t be their only addition at the position but he is a start. Stewart appeared in 13 games for the Browns last year, logging four pass defenses and a forced fumble in the process.

Cleveland’s defense will go into Week 1 at way less than full strength and Lamar Jackson and the Ravens. Stewart, acquired last month off waivers, missed nearly two weeks of practice with a lingering hamstring issue. He was limited in Thursday’s practice. The Ravens excel in exploiting defensive weaknesses. This sets up for another massive opening game for Jackson and the Baltimore pass catchers.

Stewart was a second-round selection by the Bucs in 2018 but struggled to stay healthy or make an impact on the field. He missed 11 games across two seasons. Stewart started six games in Tampa Bay and recorded five passes defended. He will need to make a big splash in camp to have a shot at cracking Cleveland’s 53-man roster.

The No. 53 overall pick of the 2018 draft, Stewart’s Bucs career was plagued by injury and ineffectiveness. He missed six games with a foot issue in 2018 and five with a knee in 2019. One month shy of his 25th birthday, Stewart’s second-round pedigree means he is typically the type of player who would get a second chance, but roster spots are at an extreme premium this year.

With Carlton Davis (hip) out for Wednesday’s practice and former first-rounder Vernon Hargreaves waived mid-week, Tampa Bay could roll out Sean Murphy-Bunting, Jamel Dean, and Ryan Smith as their starting corners against Michael Thomas and the Saints’ aerial attack. Stewart should be considered an IR candidate until further notice.

The rookie slot corner was getting torched as usual before exiting. The Bucs continue to field one of the most injury-riddled defenses in the league.

Stewart (5’11/200) was a three-year starter and four-year contributor in the Tar Heels’ secondary, registering 11.5 career tackles for loss, 47 pass breakups, and six interceptions. Stewart showed safety-like athleticism at the Combine with 4.54 speed and a 9-foot-10 broad jump, managing 36th-percentile SPARQ results. Unlikely to cut it as a true boundary corner, Stewart best projects to safety and/or slot defender.

Tampa Bay also signed fourth-round S Jordan Whitehead and sixth-round LB Jack Cichy to four-year deals. Stewart played corner at UNC, but he tested more like a safety at the Combine. He could end up there or at slot corner for the Bucs.