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DJ Bien-Aime
HOUSTON — The NFL has put Houston Texans starting safety Jimmie Ward on the commissioner exempt list, as announced by the league on Tuesday.
While on the list, Ward is prohibited from practicing or attending games.
This action follows Ward’s arrest in Montgomery County, Texas, at 5:38 a.m. on June 12 for alleged domestic violence at his Magnolia residence involving his fiancée.
On the first day of training camp, Houston general manager Nick Caserio addressed inquiries regarding Ward’s initial arrest by stating that the team would «let the legal process unfold.»
Nearly two months later, Ward was re-arrested on Aug. 7 for breaching his prior release conditions by testing positive for alcohol, resulting in an overnight stay in jail.
The woman involved in the alleged incident initiated a lawsuit in Harris County (Texas) District Court on Aug. 21. She reported that on the morning of the arrest, she was «violently assaulted multiple times, both sexually and physically» by Ward in front of their 3-year-old child. Additionally, she claimed she was slapped, choked, threatened, and coerced into performing oral sex.
She stated that she ultimately fled into the street and called 911.
Coach DeMeco Ryans was questioned about the recent lawsuit after the Texans-Detroit Lions joint practice on Aug. 21 and remarked, «we’ll allow the situation to unfold.»
«I’m aware there are numerous allegations involving Jimmie,» Ryans said. «We don’t possess the full story, and I dislike making hasty judgments about any scenario regarding Jimmie. Let whatever needs to happen in the legal system occur. It’s unfair to rush to conclusions when allegations and narratives surface about players. There’s a tendency for people to quickly seize on the negative aspects regarding players. Let’s simply allow it to transpire.»
Ward, 33, signed a two-year, $13 million deal with the Texans as a free agent two years prior after spending his first nine seasons with the San Francisco 49ers. In 2023, Ward participated in 10 games and recorded an interception. Subsequently, the Texans extended his contract for one year in August 2024, during which he achieved two interceptions in 10 games.
