The devastating, season-ending losses of defensive end J.J. Watt to a fractured leg and outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus to a torn pectoral creates a tough situation for the Texans' defense.
As tough as it is to replace two of the top defensive players in the game, Texans coach Bill O'Brien emphasized Monday that it's a time for resiliency.
"The train doesn't stop moving," O'Brien said. "That's what makes the NFL what it is. Guys are going to have to step in. It's going to be multiple guys. It's going to be a lot of different guys."
Not having a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year in Watt and one of the top all-around outside linebackers in the league in Mercilus is a huge blow to the Texans' defense.