Early in the third quarter of Houston's exhibition game against Arizona, rookie running back Ben Tate got the ball and headed off left tackle. At the end of his 12-yard run, he was pulled down by Arizona linebacker Daryl Washington.
Tate didn't get up. He had to be helped off the field. Then he was carted into the dressing room for X-rays. It looks like he suffered a broken ankle and is out for the season.
If Tate is done for the season, and we'll await confirmation of that, then it suddenly becomes a two-man scramble in the Houston backfield between Arian Foster and Steve Slaton, unless the Texans bring in another back. Foster, currently the starter, had a better game than Slaton last night.