Tag: Houston Texans offensive line

Report: Texans C Jarrett Patterson sustained broken ankle against the Panthers

The Houston Texans offensive line has taken another blow with the injury to center Jarrett Patterson.

The Houston Texans offensive line continues to take on attrition, a theme that began in training camp with center Scott Quessenberry tearing his ACL.

According to Aaron Wilson from KPRC-TV, the center position is once more the target of misfortune as rookie Jarrett Patterson is believed to have broken his ankle amid the 15-13 loss to the Carolina Panthers Sunday afternoon at Bank of America Stadium.

Patterson became a viable option at center when second-rounder Juice Scruggs sustained an injury during preseason. The former Notre Dame product slid into the role and was Houston’s Opening Day starter in the 25-9 loss at the Baltimore Ravens.

The sixth-round center has played 463 snaps for Houston, representing 99% of the offense’s snaps.

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PFF graded OT Kilian Zierer as Texans’ best UDFA

The Houston Texans’ highest graded undrafted free agent was none other than OT Kilian Zierer according to Pro Football Focus.

Where James Liipfert earns his keep as assistant director of player personnel and college scouting director is uncovering the gems in the late rounds, or players that fall out of the draft entirely.

According to Braxton Howard from Pro Football Focus, if there were a best undrafted free agent from the Texans’ class, it would have to be former Auburn tackle Kilian Zierer, who posted a 69.5 overall grade.

Zierer appeared in the first two preseason games, totaling 79 snaps at left tackle. Despite allowing four pressures, he managed to put up a respectable 76.0 pass-blocking grade. However, he finished with a run-of-the-mill 60.7 run-blocking grade.

The Texans could at least use Zierer for depth as they sort through availability issues across the offensive line. Zierer is also part of the Texans’ injury troubles as he is currently on injured reserve.

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Timeline for Texans OT Charlie Heck to come off PUP list

The Houston Texans don’t have Charlie Heck available as he is on PUP list. Here are targets to get the tackle back.

The Houston Texans are challenged with their tackle depth, and a key part of the issue is Charlie Heck.

The former 2020 fourth-rounder has been on the physically unable to perform list throughout training camp, and the Texans have had to look outside the organization for solutions, particularly with right tackle Tytus Howard working back from a fractured left hand.

General manager Nick Caserio told reporters Aug. 30 that they are working through the information as it relates to Heck.

“I think as we go, as we get more information, I think we’ll be able to make more of a determination about what their availability is going to be,” Caserio said. “And I’d say, even though they’re similar, each case is probably a little bit different. Tytus is definitely closer it appears. Charlie is probably a little bit further, so we’ll kind of just have to work through that.”

Here is a timeline over the next 12 weeks that encapsulates Heck and his stay on the PUP list.

Texans work out former Dolphins, Steelers OT Jesse Davis

The Houston Texans worked out former Miami Dolphins and Pittsburgh Steelers tackle Jesse Davis.

The Houston Texans continue to evaluate outside options as they work through injuries affecting the offensive line.

According to Aaron Wilson from KPRC-TV, the Texans worked out former Miami Dolphins and Pittsburgh Steelers tackle Jesse Davis.

The former 2015 undrafted free agent has flexibility on both the inside and the outside. Davis started 26 of 32 games for the Dolphins at right guard from 2016-17 before they kicked him outside to right tackle. Davis played a combination of 46 games on both sides of the line through the 2021 campaign.

Davis went to camp with the Minnesota Vikings in 2022, but was traded at the end of preseason to the Steelers for a conditional 2025 seventh-round pick.

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Texans earn B-minus grade for Tytus Howard contract extension

The Houston Texans earned a respectable grade for their work with the Tytus Howard contract extension.

The Houston Texans guaranteed they would have a solid tackle duo for the next three seasons with the Tytus Howard extension.

Houston worked out a deal with their former 2019 first-round pick on the eve of training camp and finalized the contract by the end of day one.

Along with Howard, the Texans have three-time Pro Bowler Laremy Tunsil as a stalwart at left tackle. Presuming C.J. Stroud wins the starting quarterback job, the rookie will have quality pass protection as he makes his foray into the NFL.

According to Doug Farrar from the Touchdown Wire, the Texans’ contract with Howard grades as a B-minus in the vertical’s analysis of recent contract extensions across the league.

Howard is a solid option at right tackle for Houston. Could you do better? Sure, but you could also do much worse. He also gives Houston some versatility, as he can also be kicked inside to play guard if need be. 

When it comes to pass blocking efficiency amongst tackles to play at least half the snaps of the league-leader in snaps played, Howard had a very respectable score of 96.6, per PFF. Locking him down with a three-year, $56 million extension is respectable money for a respectable option at right tackle opposite of Laremy Tunsil.

An offensive line is a cohesive unit of five players moving in concert to clear running lanes and provide protection on passing downs. In the abstract, Howard’s extension may be in the B range. However, when factored into the capital improvements general manager Nick Caserio has made to the line in the offseason, along with new coach DeMeco Ryans’ belief the trenches are a foundation to a great team, the Howard extension deserves a higher mark than flirting with C territory.

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Texans sign OT George Fant to 1-year contract

The Houston Texans have signed former New York Jets tackle George Fant.

The Houston Texans are shoring up their tackle depth as fourth-year Charlie Heck works his way off the physically unable to perform list.

According to Aaron Wilson from KPRC-TV, the Texans have signed former New York Jets tackle George Fant to a one-year contract worth $4 million.

Fant spent the last three seasons with the Jets, starting in 36 of 37 contests. A knee injury took a chunk out of Fant’s 2022 campaign and relegated it to seven of eight games started.

The former Western Kentucky product began his career as an undrafted free agent with the Seattle Seahawks in 2016. Fant had 46 activations for the Seahawks in that span, starting in 24 games.

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Texans coach DeMeco Ryans looking forward to offensive line developing chemistry

Houston Texans coach DeMeco Ryans is looking forward to the offensive line developing chemistry during the contact portions of training camp.

One aspect of any football team that can’t fully develop cohesion until training camp is the offensive line.

The way the collective bargaining agreement is structured between the NFL and the NFLPA, players cannot participate in full contact practices until training camp.

For the offensive line, the five-man unit can utilize the offseason workouts to sharpen their mental grasp of their assignments, but the true measure of the unit’s impact can’t be felt until the line collides with the defense to set the line of scrimmage.

Houston Texans coach DeMeco Ryans told reporters Wednesday after the first day of training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center that he looks forward to the offensive line developing chemistry in the coming practices.

“With our offensive line, it’s all of the guys just being able to gel together,” Ryans said. “The best offensive lines, they work in sync. They work as one. It takes time to develop that, that chemistry amongst our group. Now to have the guys back, each and every day let’s see how much can that chemistry improve, how tighter can these guys get to where they’re in sync and operating as one.”

From what Ryans has been able to tell in padless practices, the offensive line is, “doing an excellent job of protecting in the passing game.” However, Ryans also expects the offensive line to “[be] able to knock guys off the line of scrimmage and reset the line of scrimmage in the run game.”

New offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik’s scheme, which is a continuation of San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan’s run-heavy design, will need the offensive line to take command.

Said Ryans: “That’s my philosophy of team building. It all starts up front. If you can’t win the line of scrimmage, it’s going to be hard to win games.”

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Report: Texans signing G Shaq Mason to contract extension

The Houston Texans are signing guard Shaq Mason to a contract extension.

The Houston Texans are fortifying their offensive line for the next three years.

According to Aaron Wilson from KPRC-TV, the Texans are working out a contract extension with guard Shaq Mason. The former New England Patriot and Tampa Bay Buccaneer is finalizing a three-year extension with Houston worth $36 million with $22 million guaranteed and another $10 million as a signing bonus.

Mason told reporters on May 4 that he wasn’t worried about getting an extension worked out with the Texans.

“I play ball,” Mason said. “I let everybody else handle those types of things. I love to be here, that’s one thing. I’m here to ball and that’s what I’m going to do.”

The Texans traded for Mason at the start of free agency in March.

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Texans G Shaq Mason says Kenyon Green ‘picks my brain a lot’

Houston Texans guard Shaq Mason can attest to second-year guard Kenyon Green being eager to learn and using him as a resource.

Shaq Mason is on his third different team in as many seasons, but he knows the drill in order to be a part of a functional offensive line.

The Houston Texans traded with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to obtain Mason’s services. The former New England Patriots 2015 fourth-round pick went to the Texans for a 2023 sixth-rounder.

To form cohesion, Mason knows it is a process.

“Really, it’s building continuity, taking it day-by-day,” Mason said. “Everybody’s out there grinding, trying to put our best foot forward. No matter who we’re playing beside, whoever the five are, I know we’re all going to be on the same page.”

The Texans have impressive pieces at two of their offensive line spots in three-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil and former 2019 first-round right tackle Tytus Howard. The potential to have a third activate remains with former 2022 first-rounder Kenyon Green, who started 14 of his 15 games active last season at left guard.

According to Mason, the Texas A&M product is putting in the effort by tapping into Mason’s experience.

“Kenyon, he picks my brain a lot,” said Mason. “We’ve been talking. He’s been asking me things here and there.”

The Texans are in Phase 2 of their offseason workouts, which means there is on-field instruction but the offense and defense can’t compete against one another yet, not even in drills. The first phase of the offseason program consisted of more classroom work, which is where Green was able to demonstrate his dedication to improvement.

Said Mason: “One thing I know is that he cares. That’s a big thing coming from a guy that young. He cares about his craft. He cares about studying. He doesn’t want to mess anything up. That’s a lot coming from a young guy.”

Green, 22, had arthroscopic knee surgery in the offseason.

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Nick Caserio defines how Laremy Tunsil has shown leadership with the Texans

Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio says that left tackle Laremy Tunsil has shown his own style of leadership with the team.

As the Houston Texans are on the cusp of departing the wilderness of futility where they have spent the past three seasons, there has been one constant the team can rely upon should brighter days return.

While the texans have been terrible, left tackle Laremy Tunsil has been exemplary. Save for 2021 when he was limited to five games with a thumb injury, Tunsil has made the Pro Bowl in the two other double-digit loss seasons.

Since taking over as general manager in January 2021, Nick Caserio has seen how Tunsil has carried himself.

“Laremy is more of a — he kind of shows up and works,” Caserio told “Payne & Pendergast” on Sports Radio 610 [KILT-AM] March 19. “He cares about his craft. He’s diligent about it and then he goes out and performs. So, ultimately, leadership is about who the person is and what they do and how they lead, but a lot of times it’s more about action than it is about words.”

Right tackle Tytus Howard has spent his entire career with Tunsil on the Texans. Houston selected Howard in Round 1 of the 2019 NFL draft, and then traded for Tunsil at the end of that preseason. Howard continues to rely upon Tunsil’s critiques.

“Leadership is more about action,” said Caserio. “It’s not necessarily about word. I think everybody leads in their own and their personality kind of takes on a life of themselves. If they’re more boisterous, more vociferous, a lot of emotion, like that’s how they lead. I think there’s other people who lead more with their actions, lead more with their performance, lead more with their play.”

The Texans were able to sign Tunsil to a three-year extension worth $75 million, making him the highest paid tackle in the NFL.

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