NFL umpire Larry Smith carted off early after slipping on wet field in London

The Sunday slate in Week 6 began in one of the worst ways possible: with an injury. It wasn't a player on either the Jacksonville Jaguars or Houston Texans who went down, however; it was umpire Larry Smith.

Smith needed to be carted off the field after he appeared to sustain a lower-leg injury after falling on the field.

Smith was injured in between plays. The broadcast showed a replay of Smith's fall. While he was initially able to get up, he started limping after taking a step or two and was forced to go back down to the ground.

With Smith presumably out for the rest of the game, the contest will feature six members of an officiating crew instead of the usual seven.

Smith is a long-time Big 10 official who finally got the call to the NFL last season. This was his second year on the job. When he's not officiating, Smith is a principal at a Kansas City school.

He spoke about his promotion to the NFL on a local news program last year.

As the umpire for Sunday's game, Smith was tasked with standing behind the offensive players and watching for offensive line penalties or other offensive infractions.

That task will now be filled by another member of the officiating crew Sunday.