Not much has gone right for the Houston Texans to start the 2025 campaign. They have lost both of their first two games of the season, and they haven’t looked particularly great in either matchup. While they faced a pair of tough teams in the Los Angeles Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Texans would have ideally won one of those contests.
On Thursday, Houston finally received some good news, and it’s regarding star safety Jimmie Ward and his domestic violence case. After being arrested and charged with third-degree felony domestic violence back in June, a final ruling on the case was made, which could clear the way for Ward to return to action for Houston.
Jimmie Ward’s Domestic Violence Case Gets Dismissed
Ward was initially selected with the No. 30 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers, which is where he spent the first nine seasons of his career. After playing in only eight games as a rookie, Ward took on a starting role in 2015, which he largely held onto until 2022, and he started only five of the 12 games he played in.
Ahead of the 2023 season, Ward signed with the Texans in free agency, and he’s spent the past two seasons starting at safety for them. While he has missed 14 total games during those two campaigns, Ward has played a big role in Houston’s secondary when he’s been on the field, and the team has clearly missed him to start the 2025 campaign.
With domestic violence allegations hanging over his head, Ward was placed on the Commissioner Exempt List, which is where he has spent the first two weeks of the season. On Thursday, Ward’s case was no-billed by a Montgomery County jury, meaning the jury didn’t find probable cause that a crime occurred.
Texans safety Jimmie Ward case no-billed by Montgomery County grand jury,” Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston shared in a post on X.
Jimmie Ward Not Out of the Woods Just Yet
GettyJimmie Ward #20 of the Houston Texans reacts after an interception against the Detroit Lions.
While Ward’s case was dismissed, the NFL is still conducting its own investigation into the situation, although that could also end with this case getting dismissed. Ward is still facing a $20 million civil lawsuit that was filed based on allegations of domestic violence, with the accuser alleging that Ward assaulted her multiple times in the presence of their shared three-year-old child.
What this means for his playing status remains to be seen, as Ward would still have to get activated off the Commissioner Exempt List before getting back into the action. It appears as though that could happen in the near future, although it will be worth keeping tabs on the other lawsuit he is facing and the league’s ongoing investigation.
In the meantime, Houston will continue preparing for their Week 3 contest against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Considering the hole the team has already dug for itself, picking up a win in this game is going to be crucial. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, and all eyes will be on the Texans to see if they can get themselves back on track before it’s too late.
Texans Safety Jimmie Ward Gets Final Decision on Domestic Violence Case