HOUSTON -- Texans Pro Bowl linebacker Brian Cushing is out for the season with a left knee injury that will require surgery. Reilly Smith Jersey . Cushing was injured in the third quarter of Sundays loss at Kansas City during a low block by running back Jamaal Charles. Its the second straight year Cushing has been lost for the season with a left knee injury. He tore the anterior cruciate ligament in the same knee in Week 5 last season. Its a devastating blow for a team that has lost five games in a row heading into its bye on Sunday. "I think he was playing at a defensive player of the year-type of level," coach Gary Kubiak said. "Then here he goes again, hes got to go through this. So I know its very difficult for him ... (and) I know Cush will do everything he can to get back. But you hate to see anybody go through that especially twice now." The Texans signed Cushing to a six-year contract worth $55.6 million before this season. Kubiak said injuries to left tackle Duane Brown (ankle), running back Arian Foster (hamstring) and Ben Tate (ribs) arent serious. Tate was injured in the third quarter on Sunday but returned and finished the game. He told The Associated Press on Monday that he has four broken ribs. He was in a lot of pain, even wincing when he took off his sweatshirt, but said that he expects to be ready to play when Houston hosts Indianapolis on Nov. 3. "Ill be OK," he said. Kubiak also said rookies Cierre Wood, Sam Montgomery and Willie Jefferson were released for violating team rules. He wouldnt specify what the players did, but did say it wasnt just one thing. "I make decisions based on a body of work in everything I do," he said. "Ive got five months of work invested with those three young men and I made a decision today to move forward. Weve got some things we need to address as a football team." Wood is a running back who was third on the depth chart after making the team as an undrafted free agent. With Foster and Tate both banged up, the Texans will need to add depth at that position with one of the open roster spots. Montgomery, a third-round pick, and Jefferson, who was undrafted, are both linebackers. "Weve got some rebuilding to do inside with some issues and weve got some special teams issues," Kubiak said. "So the moves that we make have got to be special teams-oriented to help (special teams coach) Joe (Marciano)." Players wouldnt discuss why the three were dismissed from the team, but said they agreed with Kubiaks decision. "Its a shame," linebacker Brooks Reed said. "But its for the betterment of the team." Another issue for the Texans is the health of quarterback Matt Schaub. Schaub struggled this season before missing last weeks game with ankle and foot injuries. Former third-stringer Case Keenum got the start on Sunday in his first NFL game. He performed well for most of the game before a fumble late in the fourth quarter sealed Houstons loss. Kubiak was cagey when asked if Schaub would start after the bye if hes healthy. "Ive got to sit down and look at our situation and whats going on right now," he said. "Obviously Matts our starting quarterback, Case played this week because Matt wasnt healthy. Case went in and played extremely well. Im going to sit down on our bye week and evaluate where were at as a team and move forward from there." But he did rave about Keenums performance against the undefeated Chiefs. "To go in Kansas City in that environment and that noise and handle the football team the way he handled it I thought was impressive," Kubiak said. Stitched Golden Knights Jerseys . -- Ryan Gropp scored in overtime as the Seattle Thunderbirds shut out the Spokane Chiefs 1-0 in Western Hockey League play Tuesday. Vegas Golden Knights Pro Shop . However, the intensity and physicality that has characterized the postseason so far has caught Gretzky by surprise. "Its a little bit risqu&覡 right now," Gretzky told Philadelphia radio station 97. https://www.cheapgoldenknights.com/546n-paul-stastny-jersey-golden-knights.html . Lawries batting helmet hit an umpire during his ninth-inning outburst in the Jays 4-3 loss to Tampa Bay on Tuesday. The 22-year-old threw his helmet to the ground and it bounced up and hit home plate umpire Bill Miller on the right hip after Lawrie was called out on strikes for the second out.Villarreal, Spain (SportsNetwork.com) - Shkodran Mustafi netted a pair of second-half goals to lift Valencia to a 3-1 victory over Villarreal on Sunday at the Camp El Madrigal. Coming off an impressive 3-1 win over Elche in La Liga last week, the visitors again hoped to get off to a fast start and they struck first with a bit of luck after six minutes through a Manuel Trigueros own goal. Mustafi found the back of the net in the 64th minute and he completed his double for a 3-0 lead in the 73rd minute. Trigueros atoned for his earlier error by scoring in the 88th minute for Villarreal, but it was too little, too late as Valenciia held on to claim all three points with its second consecutive victory. Erik Haula Jersey. The result vaults Valencia into second place in La Liga with 23 points, one behind Barcelona, while Villarreal remains in eighth place on 14 points. Also in La Liga on Sunday, David Barra and Victor Casadesus found the back of the net to lead Levante took a 2-1 win over Almeria at the Ciutat de Valencia. Aritz Aduriz scored after 13 minutes to hand Athletic Bilbao a 1-0 result over Sevilla at the San Mames. Finally in La Liga, Jonathas netted a pair of goals to lift Elche off the bottom of the La Liga table with a 2-1 win over Espanyol. ' ' '