Texans captain Jimmie Ward’s future unclear after he’s accused of choking a woman

Early on Thursday morning, Houston Texans safety Jimmie Ward was arrested following an incident at his home in the Magnolia, Texas area. Montgomery County authorities say Ward has been accused of choking and threatening a woman, who has since filed for an emergency protective order. He was arrested on the spot and later released on $30,000 bond.

What are the consequences if Ward is found guilty?

Ward signed with the Texans in 2023 after playing nine seasons in San Francisco. He was a key part of the Texans’ turnaround last season, logging 48 tackles and two interceptions through 10 games before suffering a foot injury that ended his season.

Ward was voted as team captain for both the 2023 and 2024 seasons. The Texans extended Ward’s contract through 2025 last year, although he was expected to take on a more reduced role after Calen Bullock emerged as a reliable talent and now that Houston added safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson this offseason.

Now, however, it may be more reduced than expected. The Texans acknowledged the incident but did not comment on it further:

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

The NFL has confirmed they are looking into the matter. The league’s personal conduct policy states that players, coaches, and staff are prohibited from engaging in “illegal, violent, dangerous, or irresponsible actions”. If he’s found in violation of that, Ward could face suspension or other disciplinary action.

In Texas, assault can be considered anywhere from a Class C misdemeanor to a third-degree felony depending on the severity of the offense. A Class C misdemeanor could lead to a $500 fine, but a Class A misdemeanor could mean up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine. A third-degree offense, however, could result in a $10,000 fine and between two and 10 years in prison. Choking someone would constitute a third-degree felony.

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