ESPN NFL Training Camp 2007

The Houston Texans have lost starting strong safety Glenn Earl for the entire 2007 season after the fourth-year veteran sustained a Lisfranc sprain to his left foot during the team's Saturday night preseason game.

Earl

Earl, 26, will undergo Tuesday surgery and will be placed on injured reserve. He faces a rehabilitation of 9-12 months.

"Glenn was having a fine camp and he was a big part of this football team, so that's a big blow," coach Gary Kubiak said on the team Web site. "We're losing a good football player. Glenn had really stepped his play up and I thought he was on his way to having a fine year. It's just a very unfortunate situation."

A fourth-round pick in the 2004 draft, Earl had started in 22 of the last 23 games for the Texans. In 15 starts in 2006, the most productive season of his career, the former Notre Dame star recorded a career-high 70 tackles, and also had two sacks and one interception.

The loss of Earl will precipitate a shuffling in the Houston secondary. Starting free safety C.C. Brown will move to the strong safety spot. Von Hutchins and Jason Simmons will work at free safety, battling for the starting job there, and veteran cornerback Dexter McCleon likely will get some snaps at safety now as well.

Kubiak acknowledged the Texans will also study the waiver wire for potential help at safety when teams begin mandatory roster reductions later this month.

ESPN.com has learned that the Texans will bring in free agent Shaun Williams for a workout. A nine-year veteran and former first-round choice, Williams has played both safety spots and also cornerback in his career. He started 12 games for the Carolina Panthers in 2006.

In 37 games, Earl had 187 tackles, three interceptions, 11 passes defensed, two sacks and one forced fumble.

Senior writer Len Pasquarelli covers the NFL for ESPN.com.