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Referees aren’t immune from the NFL injury bug.
Umpire Larry Smith will miss the rest of the season with a torn quadriceps muscle, according to Football Zebras, after he slipped on the turf at Wembley Stadium during Sunday’s Texans-Jaguars matchup in London.
Smith attempted to stand after the non-contact injury, but staggered back to the turf in visible pain. Line judge Carl Johnson knelt beside him as trainers came out to check on him.
Smith is in the middle of his second NFL season after seven years as a referee and one as a center judge in the Big Ten. He also previously worked in the Mid-American Conference (MAC).
It marks the second straight week of Smith garnering some unwanted attention.
Last week, he went viral during the Chargers-Broncos game when his cleat came off as he was moving to his pre-snap position.
Referee Shawn Hochuli called timeout and pointed to himself, addressing the Broncos’ defense in what was seemingly a failed attempt to divert attention from Smith fixing his footwear.
The injury leaves head referee Hochuli in need of a substitute umpire with his officiating crew for the remainder of the season before their Week 7 assignment.
NFL officials have continued to find themselves in the headlines this season, with line judge Jeff Seeman and referee Adrian Hill each suspended for separate Week 4 incidents.
Seeman got a two-game ban for cursing out Cardinals tight end Trey McBride, while Hill earned his one-game suspension for snapping at Vikings linebacker Eric Wilson after an accidental collision.