Report: Texans safety Jimmie Ward charged with felony assault family violence

Houston Texans safety Jimmie Ward has reportedly been charged with felony assault family violence in Montgomery County, a suburb of Houston, following an early Thursday incident at his home in Magnolia. The news came according to the Houston Chronicle.

Ward was arrested on the scene around 5:30 am ET on Thursday morning, per the report. Ward is currently being held without bond, according to information from the Montgomery County jail obtained by the Houston Chronicle.

“We are aware of the report involving Jimmie Ward,” Omar Majzoub, the senior director of communications for the Texans, said in a statement to the Chronicle. “We are gathering more information and have no further comment at this time.”

Ward originally signed with the Texans during the 2023 offseason and is under contract for the 2025 season after Houston added another year to his deal last season. Ward is owed $4.5 million this upcoming season and has a $5.6 million cap number, according to the Chronicle.

The 33-year-old Ward is entering his 11th NFL season and followed third-year Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans to Houston after playing under Ryans during his first nine NFL seasons with the San Francisco 49ers. Ward was a key piece of the Texans defense last season, adding a much-needed toughness and intensity before suffering a season-ending foot sprain in December.

Ward has not participated in any Texans offseason workouts and wasn’t spotted at this week’s mandatory minicamp. He has been in the team facility receiving treatment during his rehab.

Stefon Diggs reportedly paid Jimmie Ward $100K for jersey number

Stefon Diggs had to pay a lot of money to wear a new jersey number with the Houston Texans. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC (per Pro Football Talk), the star wide receiver paid Jimmie Ward $100,000 for the No. 1 jersey. Diggs opted to switch to No. 1 from No. 14 after wearing it his entire career.

Diggs considered changing to No. 1 when he was with the Bills in 2021. “After some thought… I can’t change my number,” he wrote on social media at the time. “All the people that spent their hard-earned money supporting the 14. I gotta keep it.”

The Texans traded for Diggs last week and reworked his current contract. His base salary went from $18 million to $22.5 million in guaranteed money for the upcoming season and voided the final three years of his deal, which will make him a free agent in 2025.

Following the trade, Diggs sent an emotional message to Bills fans.

“I can’t begin to express the amount of love and respect I have for the city of Buffalo,” Diggs wrote. “Four of the best years of my life. The city welcomed me with open arms. I’m forever grateful for you all and the Buffalo Bills organization!

“Something special was built over these years with some very special men, that will always have a place in my heart. Bills Mafia, so many great memories created throughout the years. Those games were crazy because of you. Sadly good things come to an end until we meet again.”

— On3’s Brian Jones contributed to this report.