Texans restructure OG Shaq Mason: report

The Houston Texans are clearing some salary cap space by restructuring Mason’s contract.

The Houston Texans made more moves on Friday, albeit a bit smaller than some of the other ones the team made this week.

Houston is restructuring offensive guard Shaq Mason’s contract, according to KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson. The details of the restructuring haven’t been reported.

The Texans acquired Mason and a 2023 seventh-round pick from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before this past season in exchange for a 2023 sixth-round pick. Houston then signed him to a three-year, $36 million contract extension two months later.

He was set to make at least his base salary of $9.25 million in 2024 and count $12.3 million against the 2024 salary cap.

Mason, who’ll be 31 in August, started all 17 games for Houston this past season on an offensive line that dealt with a plethora of injuries.

AFC Divisional Round picks: Who the experts are taking in Ravens vs. Texans

The NFL experts have made their picks, and the Baltimore Ravens are favored to defeat the Houston Texans in the AFC Divisional Round

We’re a little over 30 hours away from the Ravens (13-4) and Texans (11-7) kicking off the AFC divisional round of the playoffs on ESPN.

Houston advanced to the Divisional round of the NFL playoffs for the fifth time in franchise history with a 45-14 win over the Browns in Super Wild Card Weekend.

The playoff win earned the Texans a rematch against the Ravens, and they’ll return to M&T Bank Stadium hoping to avenge a 25-9 loss in Week 1.

With kickoff fast approaching, here’s the NFL expert picks.

Ravens divisional round preview: 10 things to know about the Houston Texans

We’re looking at ten things to know about the Houston Texans ahead of their AFC Divisional Round matchup against the Baltimore Ravens

The Texans advanced to the Divisional round of the NFL playoffs for the fifth time in franchise history with a 45-14 win over the Browns in Super Wild Card Weekend.

The playoff success earned Houston a rematch against the Baltimore Ravens, and they’ll return to M&T Bank Stadium hoping to avenge a 25-9 loss in Week 1.

The Texans are a different team since that humble welcome to the NFL moment for C.J. Stroud, and all the former Ohio State star has done is shatter records and lead his team to the postseason as a rookie.

With final preparations for Saturday’s kickoff underway, we’re looking at ten things about the Houston Texans.

Texans offensive line claims No. 15 in Pro Football Focus rankings

The Houston Texans offensive line inched its way to No. 15 in the latest Pro Football Focus rankings entering Week 7.

The Houston Texans offensive line has had its depth tested since the second week of training camp, but the five-man unit continues to find ways to thrive.

According to Zoltan Buday from Pro Football Focus, the Texans’ offensive line ranked as the 15th-best blocking unit entering Week 7. Largely the Texans’ placement in the top half of the NFL is due to their pass-blocking, wherein Houston is ranked sixth-best in the league.

After allowing 10 pressures in the first two games of the season, right guard Shaq Mason has surrendered just two over the past four games. He has allowed pressure on 1.5% of dropbacks over that span, which is the fourth-lowest rate among guards.

PFF considers left tackle Laremy Tunsil to be the best player on the offensive line with an 88.2 pass-blocking grade, which is the third-best among tackles the past two weeks.

What has helped the Texans is, not only the return of Tytus Howard, but the serviceable play of tackle George Fant. Houston is able to leave Fant at right tackle and use Howard’s versatility to plug left guard, where they have played Josh Jones and Kendrick Green following the season-ending injury to second-year guard Kenyon Green.

Run blocking remains an area for improvement. The Texans have the third-lowest yards per carry in the NFL at 3.2.

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Is the Texans offensive line even that bad?

The Houston Texans offensive line has been the most afflicted with injuries. Is the unit even that bad considering the circumstances?

One of the most optimistic units for the Houston Texans in the offseason has become arguably its most compromised throughout the first four weeks of the regular season.

The Texans made capital investments in the offensive line, but only right guard Shaq Mason has been the consistent starter. Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil appeared only in Week 1. Second-year Kenyon Green was placed on injured reserve ahead of the season opener, and right tackle Tytus Howard was place on a shorter term of IR.

Houston’s 2-2 start has been due to the cobbling together of backups and rookies in key spots.

According to Zoltan Buday from Pro Football Focus, the Texans are actually the 19th-best offensive line in the league, even with all of their challenges due to the attrition across the offensive line.

The Texans’ offensive line continues to defy expectations. Despite all the injuries and going up against the Steelers’ defense, the unit did not allow a single sack and ranked 10th in pass-blocking efficiency in Week 4.

Consider the Texans were able to register 10th-best in Week 4 in pass-blocking efficiency while rotating second-year Austin Deculus and sixth-year veteran Geron Christian at left tackle.

As the offensive line settles, whether due to coaching adjusting to the injuries or the intended starters returning, Houston should be a more competitive opponent going forward.

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Texans’ Juice Scruggs, Kenyon Green provided cleaner pocket for C.J. Stroud

Houston Texans rookie linemen Juice Scruggs and Kenyon Green provided C.J. Stroud with a cleaner pocket against the Miami Dolphins.

HOUSTON — Protecting rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud is the main priority in 2023. The Houston Texans project their No. 2 overall pick to be the franchise’s future, but they will need help from the offensive line.

In the 20-9 win over the New England Patriots in the first preseason game, most of the chaos began along the interior with rookie center Juice Scruggs and second-year left guard Kenyon Green. New England pressured Stroud on five of his seven dropbacks.

After an intense film session with offensive line coach Chris Strausser, Scruggs and Green recognized their mistakes during joint practices with the Miami Dolphins and corrected some of their downfalls.

On Saturday, the results differed as the two linemen helped provide a clean pocket and throwing lanes for Stroud in the 28-3 loss. Stroud was never under heavy pressure nor sacked during his four drives in the first half.

“Overall, everyone can see the offensive line protected much better this week,” said Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans in his postgame press conference. “It was good to see. That’s what we need from our [offensive line], [to] challenge them. In last night’s meeting, challenge them before the game. Making sure that we have protection, have the quarterback have a good pocket to throw in, and that’s what they did today. I’m proud of what they did, and overall that group is continuing to grow.

“We’ve got young players in there with Kenyon and Juice. Those guys are continuing to get better, and it takes reps. So, it’s good to see these guys get these valuable reps in the preseason where they can go out and put good things on tape. If there’s something bad, they can see where they need to improve and correct it. So, I’m proud of the [offensive line].”

Texans right guard Shaq Mason liked what he saw his rookie quarterback against the Dolphins and believes that he can take significant strides this season.

“I saw him have a lot of control in the huddle,” Mason told the Texans Wire after the game. “He was poised and patient. He led us in the short amount of time he was in there, and he did what we expected of him. Of course, there are things we can all fix and clean up, but I think he did a good job of commanding and controlling the huddle. In only his second NFL game, that is big for him.”

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Texans G Shaq Mason says RT Tytus Howard ‘takes a lot of pride in his craft’

Houston Texans guard Shaq Mason says that one of the reasons he admires Tytus Howard is because of the right tackle’s pride in his work.

Shaq Mason has spent the majority of his career on winning teams.

The former New England Patriots 2015 fifth-round pick only departed his original draft team, where he had played for four Super Bowl teams — winning two — to play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2022. Mason has a good sense to know when a teammate cares.

After day one of Houston Texans training camp at Houston Methodist Training Center July 26, Mason laid out for reporters why he has an admiration for right tackle Tytus Howard.

“He’s extremely hard working,” Mason said. “Takes a lot of pride in his craft. That’s something that you want going in to battle with somebody each and every day. Knowing that he cares just as much as you do, and knowing that I don’t want to let him down — he doesn’t want to let me down. That’s big for the right side of the line.”

Mason and Howard will be working in tandem if the Texans’ plans come to fruition. Even though Mason is the new right guard, three-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil was part of the welcoming committee when the Texans traded for Mason during free agency.

Said Mason: “They welcomed me with open arms. As soon as I got traded here, they both hit me up. We mesh well.”

The connection with Mason and the two starting tackles is also a glimpse into the larger brotherhood the Texans offensive line is forging throughout camp. Mason says they have a group chat and they “absolutely” root for one another.

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69 days till Patriots season opener: Every player to wear No. 69 for New England

Here’s a list of every Patriots player to wear the No. 69 jersey number.

With another week in the books, the New England Patriots are 69 days away from their regular season opener against the defending NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles on September 10.

We’re counting down the days until kickoff by listing every Patriots player that has ever worn the No. 69 jersey number.

There have only been eight for New England with second-year offensive guard Cole Strange donning the number currently. The 2022 NFL first-round draft pick is expected to help fortify an offensive line group that imploded last season, along with the rest of the Patriots’ offense.

Two-time Super Bowl champion Shaq Mason is another former Patriot that wore No. 69 and made a major impact for the team. With those two players in mind, let’s take a look at every player that has ever worn No. 69 throughout New England’s franchise history.

LB Denzel Perryman is excited about chemistry Texans are building

Linebacker Denzel Perryman is enthused concerning the chemistry that the Houston Texans have forged throughout the offseason.

A plurality of fans around the NFL recognize the Houston Texans as a young team of up-and-comers who are led by a first-year head coach with plenty of potential to improve on the failed campaigns of yore.

What most don’t know, though, is that Houston has quietly assembled a group of veterans to lead their inexperienced talent to new heights in 2023 and beyond. Linebacker Denzel Perryman, who signed with the Texans as a free agent after stints with the Los Angeles Chargers, Carolina Panthers, and Las Vegas Raiders told reporters about the building chemistry within the Texans organization after mandatory minicamp on June 14.

Said Perryman: “Me and [OL] Shaq Mason were just talking about this the other day as we were eating. We were out, and I was just like, ‘Bro, I’ve been a part of some teams that had the roster.’ Just, the chemistry that we all have, and it’s not knocking any other team that I’ve been on, but just the chemistry — the young guys, the older guys — it is a great mixture, and I’ll just say, ‘Stay tuned’ man. Just stay tuned. Watch us put it together.”

The final part of Perryman’s comment will be the key for Houston, as offseason camaraderie rarely indicates regular-season success.

But, for a team with so much room to improve and a roster capable of much more than years past, fans and the media are starting to pick up on what the Texans might be capable of if they can solve the puzzle and surprise opponents in the coming season.

They will have 17 chances to put the league on notice, and to hear Perryman tell it, success seems likely if the team can continue on their current heading.

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Texans RT Tytus Howard leads by example in OL room

Houston Texans right tackle Tytus Howard continues to lead by example in the offensive line room as he enters his fifth season.

Most individuals treat their birthday like it is a national holiday. They want the day and themselves to be recognized for its greatness in their minds, and one thing you will rarely find them doing is working on their actual birthday, especially voluntarily, which is almost absurd to think about.

That logic may apply to some, but it doesn’t when you are trying to build on being one of the best right tackles in the NFL.

Houston Texans offensive lineman Tytus Howard spent most of his birthday going through different drills and learning the new offensive system of coordinator, Bobby Slowik.

Yet, his presence was his most significant contribution to the Texans during voluntary OTAs.

“I think it means a lot for him to be here,” said offensive line coach Chris Strausser about Howard’s presence. “To show up every day as he does and lead the group will have a big impact on the younger guys.”

Howard, who was selected in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft, is coming off one of his best seasons, where he played 997 offensive snaps allowing just three sacks and five quarterback hits. He earned a career-high 67.9 grade from Pro Football Focus as he helped form a dynamic offensive tackle duo with 2022 Pro Bowl teammate and good friend Laremy Tunsil.

Houston had shown that they are willing to invest in the offensive line by making Tunsil the highest-paid offensive lineman in the NFL when they signed him to a three-year, $75 million contract extension this past offseason. They also acquired offensive guard Shaq Mason via trade and signed him to a three-year, $36 million contract extension.

Although the Texans exercised the fifth-year option on Howard’s contract, it only makes sense that they would negotiate to keep him with the team long-term, especially since they drafted rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud who they see as a potential franchise quarterback in Houston.

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