Tytus Howard has manned the right tackle spot and given the Houston Texans another quality bookend.
Having Howard and Laremy Tunsil as bookends is certainly an upgrade over the past two seasons when the Texans had Julién Davenport and Kendall Lamm in 2018.
Howard, a former 2019 first-round pick from Alabama State, earned a spot on the Pro Football Writers of America’s all-rookie team despite starting just eight games due to an MCL injury. In Howard’s second year, quarterback Deshaun Watson believes that his right tackle can play at an even higher level.
“He can be as great as he wants to be, especially having L.T. [Tunsil] on the other side that can help him through technique and just film study and things like that,” Watson said. “He’s in a great position. He’s gotten better each and every game, each and every week. You see the confidence and the growth that he has in himself but also in the system and what we want him to do.”
The Texans had the making of a solid offensive line last season, but Howard playing in just eight games over the span of his rookie year. When Howard was placed on injured reserve in Week 13, the Texans had Chris Clark and Roderick Johnson split snaps at right tackle for the rest of the season.
The Texans have had complete participation from Howard in 2020.
Said Watson: “Last year he played a little bit and then got hurt. This year he’s playing pretty much every game, I think every game. He’s a guy that’s been battling through some injuries but now he’s getting his groove and his health fully back. He’s going to be great for us the last part of the season.”
The Texans take on the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday at 12:00 p.m. CT at TIAA Bank Field, and Howard will make his eighth start of the season.