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The wet field at Wembley Stadium caused a non-contact injury for a member of the officiating crew.
Umpire Larry Smith had to be carted off the field with an apparent leg injury after sliping on the grass between plays during the first quarter of Sunday’s game between the Texans and the Jaguars in London.
Smith attempted to get up, but he quickly went down, and trainers from both teams rushed to attend to him. He couldn’t put any weight on his left leg as he was helped onto the cart.
Umpire Larry Smith went down and was carted off. Smith is in his second year as an NFL official while serving as principal of a middle school in Kansas. pic.twitter.com/fRkw9BcX9n
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) October 18, 2026Down from seven to six officials, referee Shawn Hochuli was expected to take on much of the umpire’s usual responsibilities.
Smith, a school principal in Kansas City, Kan., was a longtime college football official in the Big 10 before getting called up to the NFL in 2025.
The Texans led the Jaguars 17-14 at halftime after CJ Stroud threw two touchdown passes to Foster Moreau.
Jacksonville also played in London last Sunday, a last-second 19-17 win over the Eagles, though that game was at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
