The Houston Texans signed Ed Reed to be the missing piece in their secondary. So far, the decorated safety simply has been missing.
Reed, recovering from offseason hip surgery, sat out both Texans wins to start the season and remains a question mark with his old team, the Baltimore Ravens, up next on the schedule.
Reed was a call-in guest Tuesday on "The Rich Eisen Podcast," where he explained why missing a game against the team he won a Super Bowl with seven months ago wouldn't be the end of the world.
"It's nothing that urged me to play this week. You know, I didn't circle this on the calendar," Reed explained. "I said it earlier in the offseason that with my rehab, I'm not preparing to play against San Diego or Tennessee or even the Ravens.
"It's about being there for the long haul," Reed continued, "being there for the team when it really counts, and that's playoffs, the Super Bowl, AFC Championship Game."
Sunday will provide some extra nostalgia for Reed as the Ravens induct longtime teammate Ray Lewis into the franchise's Ring of Honor during halftime. Reed doesn't project any bitterness about his departure from Baltimore, where he starred for 11 seasons.
"I know it's a special day because yeah, my boy is going in the Ring of Honor, more than deserved for him," Reed added. "I always pictured myself on the sidelines watching that happen at halftime or something."
Reed will be in the building for Lewis' big celebration. Whether he'll be on the sideline -- or in uniform -- remains to be seen.
Listen to the full inteview with Reed on the latest edition of "The Rich Eisen Podcast." Click here to subscribe to Rich's podcast.
