Houston Texans defensive back Jimmie Ward could face a suspension from the NFL entering the season following his arrest on Thursday morning in Magnolia.
Ward, who was charged with felony assault family violence early Thursday, will be required to wear a GPS monitor while out on bond after being accused of choking and threatening to kill a woman, according to the Houston Chronicle. Since this is a criminal charge, the NFL could elect to suspend Ward for multiple games, if not the entire 2025 season.
The 33-year-old was released on a $30,000 bond Thursday afternoon. According to the Chronicle, Ward requested a bond hearing to request a lower bond, and a court date was scheduled. Ward was seen leaving the police station on Thursday afternoon.
“We are aware of the report involving Jimmie Ward,” Omar Majzoub, the senior director of communications for the Texans, said in a Thursday statement. “We are gathering more information and have no further comment at this time.”
According to the NFL ruling, if Ward violated its personal conduct policy by engaging in “illegal, violent, dangerous, or irresponsible actions,” he could face a lengthy suspension. Earlier this offseason, the Texans added depth to their secondary, trading for C.J. Gardner-Johnson and drafting Penn State’s Jaylen Reed.
Entering his third season with the Texans, Ward was viewed as one of the vocal leaders for the back-to-back AFC South champions. In both seasons, he was named a team captain, voted on by teammates, while starting multiple positions under his former defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans.
#Texans safety Jimmie Ward is facing a felony assault family violence charge in Montgomery County following an incident at his home early Thursday morning.
The team says they are aware of the situation. Ward has started 20 games over the past two seasons for Houston. pic.twitter.com/LfpT8RmuCo
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) June 12, 2025
Injuries derailed Ward’s playing time late in each of the last two seasons. He suffered a calf injury that sidelined him for the postseason in 2023. Last season, he suffered a season-ending foot injury against the Kansas City Chiefs in the second quarter, thus limiting him to 10 games.
Ward finished with 48 tackles and two interceptions last season. He signed a one-year extension to his then-expiring contract last year, keeping him on the roster through 2025. Even if he is released, he’s owed $4.5 million and has a $5.6 million cap number.
Texans Wire will continue to keep you up to date with everything surrounding Ward’s status.
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Could Texans DB Jimmie Ward be suspended following his arrest?