Tag: Texans center

Texans activate C-G Juice Scruggs to active roster

The Houston Texans have activated second-round guard-center Juice Scruggs.

The Houston Texans will take a look at what another rookie can do for their offensive line.

The Texans announced Saturday they have activated center-guard Juice Scruggs from injured reserve and will make him available for Sunday’s Week 12 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at 12:00 p.m. Central Time at NRG Stadium.

Scruggs had been on injured reserve with a hamstring injury to start the season. Houston relied on sixth-rounder Jarrett Patterson for the first six games and veteran Michael Deiter for the past four.

The Texans also used their two standard elevations on cornerback Desmond King and receiver Steven Sims.

Houston also waived linebacker Garret Wallow from the practice squad.

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Texans QB C.J. Stroud confident in C-G Michael Deiter

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud has another center for Week 9, but is confident in Michael Deiter for the job.

The Houston Texans offensive line took on more attrition in Week 8 when starting center Jarrett Patterson broke his ankle and effectively ended his rookie campaign.

For quarterback C.J. Stroud, he will work with his third different starting center in Week 9 since being the de facto starter as far back as preseason.

Though Stroud has eight games under his belt as a rookie, the No. 2 overall pick understands adversity is a large part of the pro game.

“That’s the NFL,” Stroud told reporters Nov. 1. “That’s what I’m paid to do. That’s what I have to figure out, and I’ve done it in other areas in our offensive line before. I didn’t get a week to practice with a couple guys, but that’s the beauty of the game, man. If it was easy, everybody would do it. So, I’m not worried about it. I know Mike is a professional just like I am, and we’ll figure it out.”

The former Miami Dolphins 2019 third-round pick has started 23 of his 63 game day activations. In 2021, Deiter started eight games as the Dolphins’ center.

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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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Texans OC Bobby Slowik says C Jarrett Patterson is ‘extremely reliable’

Houston Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik has confidence in rookie center Jarrett Patterson as the team prepares for Week 1.

The Houston Texans are going with a rookie center after all.

Scott Quessenberry, who started 16 games a year ago, tore his ACL and MCL early in training camp. Second-rounder Juice Scruggs assumed the position, but was placed on injured reserve to begin the 2023 campaign.

For the Texans, the philosophy has been “next man up,” which can be said of all other 31 teams. However, Houston went with another rookie in sixth-round pick Jarrett Patterson.

Offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik expressed confidence in the former Notre Dame product’s ability to anchor the offensive line as the Texans face the Baltimore Ravens Sunday.

“The biggest thing that stands out with him is consistency and reliability,” Slowik told reporters Sept. 7. “You know what you’re going to get — he’s the same every day. He’s very, very sharp. Mentally, he’s on his calls, on his technique. He gets better every day.”

Patterson has displayed a bevy of traits since joining the Texans in May, but consistency has been exceptional.

Said Slowik: “He’s just extremely reliable for a young offensive lineman — that stood out from day one, really when he came in in training camp.”

In addition to Patterson, the Texans will start another rookie on offense in quarterback C.J. Stroud, making them the first rookie center-quarterback duo to debut on Opening Day in Texans history.

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Texans encouraged with C Juice Scruggs’ development

Houston Texans coach DeMeco Ryans says he likes the progress he has seen from rookie center Juice Scruggs.

Offensive linemen tend to be overlooked, particularly along the interior. Only those who study the film — coaches and scouts — truly appreciate the work from an interior offensive lineman.

Count Houston Texans coach DeMeco Ryans among the small number that has appreciation for guard and center play in the NFL. After former starting center Scott Quessenberry went down in early August with a torn ACL and MCL, the interior has been a problematic area for the Texans. However, there may be help from within.

Second-round center Juice Scruggs filled the void, and according to Ryans, who met with reporters Monday, the Penn State product is establishing himself as a starter in his own right.

“I thought Juice did a really nice job of communicating, first and foremost,” Ryans said. “At that center position, we ask a lot of him in communicating, and you see a young guy as a rookie in him handle the communication that he has to handle up front. It’s very impressive with how far along he is to be such a young player, so very encouraged with where Juice is and knowing how much better he’s going to be as he continues to get reps and continues to play with the same guys around him. So, it’s impressive to see.”

Scruggs remains atop the depth chart as the Texans gear up for their preseason finale against the New Orleans Saints. Aug. 20 at the Caesars Superdome. Michael Deiter and Jimmy Morrissey are reserves behind Scruggs.

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Texans’ Juice Scruggs embraced ‘next man up’ mindset following Scott Quessenberry injury

Houston Texans rookie Juice Scruggs took to the “next man up” philosophy after Scott Quessenberry sustained his knee injury.

The first hit the Houston Texans took to their frontline starters across the offensive line was center Scott Quessenberry.

The incumbent, who had started 16 games for Houston last season, sustained a torn ACL and MCL, relegating his year finished before it could even start.

Second-rounder Juice Scruggs had been with the Texans since May’s rookie minicamp, but still enough time to hate the circumstances for his teammate.

“Yeah, definitely very unfortunate, especially ‘Ques’ [Quessenberry],” Scruggs told reporters Aug. 14. “He’s worked very hard and he’s been a great mentor for me. Definitely took me under his wing, helping teach me the offense.”

With Quessenberry having shown Scruggs some of the nuances of playing center in the NFL, the Penn State product sought to apply them immediately to fill a hole at center.

“That’s exactly what went to my head, ‘next man up,’ and I’ve just been preparing like I’m going to be the starter anyways,” Scruggs said. “So, when that happened, all that preparation — it allowed me to go out there and just be comfortable.”

Scruggs played 12 snaps for Houston in their 20-9 preseason victory over the New England Patriots Aug. 10. Though limited on playing time, Scruggs was the starter along with rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud.

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Injuries testing depth of the Texans offensive line early

The Houston Texans offensive line is seeing its fair share of attrition, but it serves as an early test of the unit’s mettle.

HOUSTON — One of the most vital position groups for the Houston Texans coming into training camp has been hit hardest with 10 practices and three preseason games left before the season opener against the Baltimore Ravens.

The starting offensive line has been riddled with injuries in the last week and that could affect the maturation process of rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud.

During a team drill Aug. 3, center Scott Quessenberry went down with a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and medial collateral ligament (MCL) in his left knee. The starter of 15 games last year was carted off the field, placed on injured reserve, and will miss the entire season.

Two days later, right tackle Tytus Howard suffered a broken hand and underwent surgery on Monday.

Howard, who signed a three-year, $56 million contract extension before the beginning of camp, is expected to miss four to six weeks and is in danger of missing the season opener. The fifth-year veteran has been considered one of the best tackles in the game, and his 2022 stats proved that when he only allowed three sacks on the season.

Quessenberry will be replaced by rookie Juice Scruggs, who has had a phenomenal camp so far, drawing praise from head coach DeMeco Ryans and Tunsil.

“What was the word I used last year (when describing players), ‘Dog,’” Tunsil said after practice on Saturday about Scruggs. “He stepped in, and he has to embrace that starting role as center. We need him to embrace that role and get it done. I believe he will. He comes in every day, works hard, and gets it done in the meeting room and on the field. I have 100% belief in him.”

Having Scruggs was a blessing in disguise for the Texans after their starting center went down, but they may not be as lucky when it comes to replacing Howard. Reserve lineman D.J Scaife was carted off the field on the same day as Howard was injured, and Greg Little was placed on injured reserve on Monday.

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Texans C Scott Quessenberry sustains season-ending knee injury

Houston Texans center Scott Quessenberry tore his ACL and MCL and will be lost for the 2023 season.

Attrition is already starting to hit the Houston Texans’ offensive line.

According to Aaron Wilson from KPRC-TV, center Scott Quessenberry tore his ACL and MCL during training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center Thursday.

The injury assuredly knocks their starting center from a season ago out for the 2023 campaign. Quessenberry logged 15 starts for Houston after Justin Britt stepped away from the sport following the Week 1 20-20 tie with the Indianapolis Colts.

The Texans drafted former Penn State offensive lineman Juice Scruggs in Round 2 to provide depth along the interior. Houston also has sixth-rounder Jarrett Patterson and veterans Michael Deiter and Jimmy Morrissey to fill the void.

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Texans sign C Juice Scruggs to rookie contract

The Houston Texans have signed second-round center Juice Scruggs to a standard rookie contract.

The Houston Texans have signed another member of their nine-player draft class to the 90-man offseason roster.

The Texans announced Monday they have signed second-round center Juice Scruggs. The standard rookie contract that Scruggs signed is good for four years.

Houston picked Scruggs No. 62 overall in Round 2 of the 2023 NFL draft. The former Penn State product has the ability to play center and also guard for the Texans.

Scruggs told reporters May 13 his biggest focus throughout rookie minicamp was to implement the techniques from offensive line coach Chris Strausser.

“Just coming out here, trying to learn the scheme, get in the playbook as much as possible, and really just taking Coach Strausser coaching and just trying to implement his technique and fundamentals and just trying to really understand the basics and go from there,” Scruggs said.

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C Juice Scruggs realizes significance of Texans trading up in draft

Juice Scruggs is aware of the significance in the Houston Texans trading up to draft him, and the rookie center seeks to reward their faith.

HOUSTON — For the young men waiting to hear which NFL team will call their name during the draft, life can be a little difficult when you are dealing with the anxiety and apprehension that goes along with it.

Former Penn State offensive lineman Frederick “Juice” Scruggs’s anxiousness, heightened when he received a call from the Houston Texans that the team would select him in the second round.

The Texans sent three later picks to the Philadelphia Eagles and were able to get back into the second round after including the 33rd pick in a package deal to the Arizona Cardinals to select Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. third overall in the 2023 NFL Draft.

“The draft process is nerve-wracking as it is,” Scruggs told the media at the conclusion of the Texans rookie minicamp. “Once I got the call and they said they were trading up, my heart was jumping, not going to lie. All I heard was my heartbeat when they said Houston Texans are coming to get you.

“My heart was just jumping. It was crazy. I really didn’t think about it, and then my brothers were like, ‘They just traded up to get you. That’s a really big deal.’ I was like, ‘Let’s do it, man, I’m excited.’”

Scruggs was projected to be a mid-to-late-round pick due to some concerns about him being fully recovered from a severe car accident he was involved in back in 2019, where he fractured his L3 vertebrae and suffered a concussion.

He was confined to a back brace for eight months and could not compete for an entire season. Scruggs battled back from the horrific injury to be named a team captain for the Nittany Lions and was selected to the 2022 All-Big Ten Third Team.

Although he has spent time playing the guard and center positions on the offensive line, Scruggs wants an opportunity to compete and be used wherever the team needs him.

Houston has tentative plans to play him at center but could also use him at either guard position if an injury was to occur to second-year player Kenyon Green or veteran Shaq Mason. Scruggs has appreciated the family-oriented type atmosphere provided by the Texans, with players such as Laremy Tunsil and Tytus Howard reaching out to him after he was drafted.

He also has been impressed by first-year head coach DeMeco Ryans who gives off similar vibes as his former head coach at Penn State, James Franklin.

“Yeah, you can definitely see it,” said Scruggs about the two coaches. “They’re definitely family oriented, always talk about putting the team first. I’m just excited to get to work with him (Ryans) because you can just tell he brings energy to any room he’s in. And when you got a head coach that brings the energy, it’s easy to bring the energy. I’m just excited to play for him.”

Overcoming adversity is something that Scruggs has learned to deal with in life, from being involved in a horrific car accident that could have cost him his life to recovering and fulfilling his dream to play in the NFL.

As he prepares for Texans training camp this summer, Scruggs knows that there will be plenty of challenges that he will face, such as learning the playbook and adjusting to the speed of the game on the professional level.

Yet, his most significant adjustment will be dealing with the heat and humidity in Houston, in which he got a small sample size during his rookie minicamp at Methodist Training Center.

“I would just say the weather here is definitely different for me,” Scruggs said with a smile. “Penn State, you know, we don’t get hot that much, and I heard this isn’t even hot. Yeah, so that’s definitely going to be the biggest challenge for me.”

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