The Houston Texans used their 23rd overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft to find an edge protector for quarterback Deshaun Watson in Alabama State’s Tytus Howard.
The former SWAC player only played eight games of his rookie season, starting in all them, but he made an instant impression that he could be an upgrade at right tackle the club desperately needed.
“Tytus had a really good rookie year,” coach Bill O’Brien told reporters Monday. “The guy was really playing well for us. Very tough, very physical, very athletic, great guy, great teammate.”
Howard missed the first game of the regular season with a broken hand sustained in preseason, but he was ready to go for Week 2’s game with the Jacksonville Jaguars. What truly derailed Howard’s rookie season was in Week 6 when he sprained his MCL and had to be carted off the field at Arrowhead Stadium during the Texans’ 31-24 win over the Kansas City Chiefs.
“He was injured in the Kansas City game in October, and it was a tough injury,” said O’Brien. “He tried to come back, he played with it, and then we decided to shut him down because it wasn’t going to be good for him. It was better for him to begin that rehab process and all those things.”
After missing Week 7 at the Indianapolis Colts and Week 8 versus the Oakland Raiders, Howard returned in London in the rematch with the Jaguars at Wembley Stadium. After a bye week, the rookie managed to play the next two games at the Baltimore Ravens and versus the Indianapolis Colts on a Thursday night before the club placed Howard on injured reserve on Nov. 30, the day before their Week 13 Sunday night showdown with the New England Patriots.
“He’s got a really bright future,” said O’Brien.
Howard is part of a youth movement on the offensive line. The Texans also spent a second-round pick on guard-tackle Max Scharping, who started 14 games for the Texans at left guard.