NFL’s Texans Can Force Arbitration Over Visiting Player’s Injury

Former all-pro NFL linebacker DeMeco Ryans must arbitrate his claim that shoddy field conditions at Houston’s NRG Stadium caused his career-ending injury, the Texas Court of Appeals ruled Aug. 1.

Ryans was defensive rookie of the year for the Houston Texans in 2006 before being traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2012. He tore his Achilles tendon in a “non-contact” injury in 2014 while playing against his former team on its home field. He never played again and sued the Texans in state court, saying the team breached its duty to maintain a safe playing surface for visiting players like ...