Pierce (ankle) was seen limping in the locker room following Sunday's 27-23 loss to the Cowboys, Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Pierce, who sustained an ankle injury in the fourth quarter, got taped up and tried to return, but head coach Lovie Smith didn't feel the rookie back could be effective, even as a decoy. The injury preceded a Dallas turnover that set the Texans up at the Cowboys' four-yard line and gave them an opportunity to take a two-score lead late in the game, but without Pierce to punch the ball across the goal line, Houston failed to score. Rex Burkhead was used as his replacement on the series and had two carries for minus-3 yards. Pierce's injury will be a major storyline to follow leading up to Week 15's home game against Kansas City. Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports that Pierce will undergo an MRI on the injury Monday.