NFL Ref Injured Slipping on Field, Latest on Larry Smith After Being Carted Off from Texans-Jaguars
Bleacher Report • • sports
Key Points:
- NFL referee Larry Smith was carted off the field during the Houston Texans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars game after falling and injuring his left leg.
- Smith struggled to put weight on his injured leg, raising concerns about the severity of the injury.
- The NFL currently lacks a formal contingency plan for replacing officials mid-game, relying instead on the remaining crew to cover duties.
- Smith, in his second year as an NFL referee, was assigned to Shawn Hochuli's crew for the 2026 season and previously officiated in the Big Ten and UFL.
- Due to the injury, the NFL will need a substitute for Smith in Week 7, and his participation for the remainder of the season is uncertain.
