6. DeMeco Ryans, LB, Houston Texans
Injury: Torn left Achilles tendon
Defenses typically switch to the 3-4 based on the talent and depth of their linebacker corps. With three current or former Pro Bowlers among their four starters and second-round pick
Brooks Reed likely providing pass rush off the bench, the 2011 Texans fit the bill. Ryans' recovery from a torn left Achilles tendon appears to be the only real question mark among the group. As the presumptive starter at weakside inside linebacker, his main responsibility will be as a tackling machine in run defense, a task that suits him perfectly.
Before his injury, Ryans was one of only two linebackers to have more than 400 total tackles from 2006 to 2009, and he helped the 2009 run defense to its second-best ranking in franchise history (16th). Last season, the Texans dropped eight spots to 24th.
Although he's still young and is now nine months removed from surgery, it's no guarantee that Ryans will return to his preinjury form this season: A 2009 study of NFL
Achilles tendon injuries found that a returning player's three-year production after surgery is an average of 50 percent worse than his three-year performance before surgery. If that happens with Ryans, Houston might again find itself as the NFL's breakout team that doesn't break out.