If you thought this Sunday couldn't get worse for the Houston Texans, it just did.
After falling 44-26 to the Miami Dolphins, in a game which saw a 41-0 scoreline at the half, Arian Foster is reportedly out for the season with a torn achilles.
NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported per a source that Foster tore the achilles in what appeared to be a non-contact injury during the fourth quarter of Houston's loss. The star running back was carted off the field with a leg injury during that final period.
There had not been an initial update by game's end, but coach Bill O'Brien knew it wasn't going to be good news for the 2-5 Texans.
"I don't know that yet, but it obviously didn't look good," said the Houston coach.
Foster recorded 59 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries before exiting Sunday's game. He totaled 163 yards on the season and had already missed three games with a groin injury.
The former-undrafted running back has had injury issues his whole career, only mounting two full 16-game seasons since entering the league in 2009. Foster has notched four 1,000-yard seasons and scored 53 rushing touchdown, not to mention 13 additional scores through the air.
Houston will most likely turn to either Chris Polk or Alfred Blue to man the top halfback spot in the backfield depth chart for the rest of the season. This unfortunate setback leaves the Texans with a lone dynamic offensive option in receiver DeAndre Hopkins.
Even Hopkins can't make a big enough difference if Brian Hoyer and Ryan Mallett can't consistently manufacture balanced and well-run drives, troubling times will ensue for Houston.
The Texans, despite holding a 2-5 record, are just one game back in the very-winnable AFC South and will play four more divisional contests this 2015 season.