Tag: Texans offensive line

Texans sign OT Austin Deculus to active roster among other Week 4 transactions

The Houston Texans have signed tackle Austin Deculus to the active roster among other moves for Week 4 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Houston Texans have made a bevy of moves as they get ready to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday at 12:00 p.m. Central Time at NRG Stadium.

The Texans signed tackle Austin Deculus and defensive tackle Khalil Davis from the practice squad to the active roster.

Houston also declared tackle Geron Christian and center Jimmy Morrissey as their two standard elevations from the practice squad. Following Week 4, both Christian and Morrissey will have two additional standard elevations the Texans can use before needing to sign them to the active roster from the practice squad.

The Texans also released safety DeAndre Carter-Houston from the active roster while signing defensive end Derek Rivers to the practice squad.

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Texans OC Bobby Slowik vouches for OT Austin Deculus

Houston Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik has confidence in second-year tackle Austin Deculus heading into Week 4.

The Houston Texans weren’t supposed to need Austin Deculus so soon.

As the organization formed its offensive line throughout the offseason, three-time Pro Bowler Laremy Tunsil was to man left tackle with former 2019 first-rounder Tytus Howard locking down right tackle.

In a series of training camp and regular season injuries, Tunsil and Howard have played just one game between the two of them. The reserves are starting to take on attrition as backup Josh Jones has not practiced all week with a hand injury.

The Texans brought back Geron Christian, who started eight of 14 games active in 2021. However, Houston may have to rely on their final pick of the 2022 NFL draft to anchor the left side in Week 4.

Offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik expressed to reporters Sept. 28 a sense of confidence in the former sixth-rounder from LSU.

“He’s been putting the work in over the first three weeks,” Slowik said. “We’ve noticed — we don’t really take — a lot of teams call it a scout team — guys that are out there doing cards. We don’t take that for granted. We coach that pretty hard. We evaluate it, we’re constantly talking to our guys about it to make sure their fundamentals and techniques can improve on a week-to-week basis.”

Deculus has been active for two games for Houston, although all 12 of his snaps were on special teams. Should the Texans use the Cy-Fair High School alumnus extensively on offense, he can count on support.

“Obviously, we’re not just going to put him out there,” said Slowik. “We’re going to make sure we help him in the run game and the pass game and that’s all the way across the board.”

The Texans face the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday at 12:00 p.m. Central Time at NRG Stadium. Pittsburgh (2-1) enters Week 4 with the most sacks with 13.

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Texans coach DeMeco Ryans credits ‘next man up’ mentality for 37-17 win over Jaguars

Houston Texans coach DeMeco Ryans gave credit to the team’s ability to adhere to the “next man up” philosophy in the 37-17 win in Week 3.

The mantras for the Houston Texans, such as “SWARM” and “Iron Sharpens Iron” have been memorized, put on merchandise, and repeated over and over again by coaches and players during interviews.

It is to the point that even the fans use the phrases when talking about the team, and now they must practice saying a new one over the next few weeks, “Next Man Up!”

That mantra has been used over the last three weeks with the abundant number of injuries the Texans have suffered from training camp until now. On Sunday, the players on Houston’s sideline must have all had t-shirts made with the saying as they defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars for their first win of the season.

One position group that deserves the most praise came into the game with many unanswered questions as they have been scrutinized the first two weeks of the season. The Texans’ offensive line kept rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud off the grass against the Jags as they did not allow a sack, which is something they had not done this season coming into the game, having given up a league-high 11. They only allowed Jacksonville’s defense to pressure Stroud 12 times (38.7%) while in the pocket, which led to him completing 12 of his 18 passes with over 2.5 seconds to throw the ball.

Without starting right tackle Tytus Howard, left guard Kenyon Green, and centers Scott Quessenberry and Juice Scruggs, Houston suffered another significant blow as Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil was ruled out on Saturday for the second consecutive week.

“I think our offensive line played really well, keeping the quarterback clean, not giving up any sacks,” said Texans coach DeMeco Ryans after the game. “They played well as a unit, and that’s what it takes in protection. It takes all five guys playing together, tight ends, backs helping in protection, and the quarterback getting the ball out on time and where it needs to go. So, it’s all 11 guys playing well, but it’s really credit to [offensive line] coach [Chris] Strausser and the O-line for what they did today.”

It is no secret that there was tremendous skepticism when it came to a group that featured players, many of whom were believed to be cast off of their former teams. Starting left guard Kendric Green was ostracized by the Pittsburgh Steelers during the preseason, and left tackle Josh Jones had found his way into the doghouse with the Arizona Cardinals. Yet, the two gave Stroud all the time he needed against Jacksonville by protecting his blindside.

“George Fant, Shaq Mason, Kendrick Green, Josh Jones. J.P., me and him are rookies, and we’re figuring it out,” Stroud said after the game about the continuity he is building with his offensive line.

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Texans’ offensive line depth, solutions to be tested in Week 2 against the Colts

The Houston Texans’ offensive line will be tested once more in the Week 2 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. Can the depth step up?

HOUSTON — The offensive line position was considered one of the strongest units for the Houston Texans heading into training camp, but heading into the Week 2 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts, it is as fragile as table chairs being held together by duct tape.

The Texans are expected to be without 2022 Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil on Sunday due to a knee injury. Tunsil was held out of practice for the majority of the week by the training staff.

That is a terrible blow to a unit that is already missing right tackle Tytus Howard (broken hand), left guard Kenyon Green (left shoulder), and centers Scott Quessenberry (ACL, MCL) and Juice Scruggs (hamstring). Howard and Scruggs are expected to return this season, while Quessenberry and Green will miss the entire 2023 campaign.

Tunsil’s injury may hinder what first-year offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik wants to accomplish by establishing the running game early and getting rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud comfortable in the pocket. Stroud was sacked five times in the season opener against the Baltimore Ravens.

With the lack of depth in the offensive line unit, the team signed offensive lineman Michael Deiter to the active 53-man roster and elevated Austin Deculus from the practice squad to the game day roster. Tackle Josh Jones is expected to move from the left guard position to left tackle to replace Tunsil.

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Texans elevate OT Austin Deculus from practice squad for Week 2 against the Colts

The Houston Texans have elevated OT Austin Deculus as part of their two practice squad elevations in anticipation for Week 2.

The Houston Texans are getting ready for a series of outcomes if Laremy Tunsil is unable to go in Week 2 against the Indianapolis Colts.

The Texans signed center-guard Michael Deiter from the practice squad to the active roster. That should give Houston options along the interior as they possibly slide Josh Jones, who debuted last week at left guard, out to left tackle to replace the three-time Pro Bowler.

Houston also declared second-year tackle Austin Deculus as one of their two standard practice squad elevations. The other elevation is seven-year safety DeAndre Houston-Carson due to starters Jalen Pitre and Jimmie Ward being out.

The Texans also waived defensive end Derek Rivers from the active roster.

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Texans coach DeMeco Ryans ‘happy’ with Josh Jones’ guard performance

Houston Texans coach DeMeco Ryans was pleased with what Josh Jones showed at left guard against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1.

The Houston Texans aren’t where they would like to be with the offensive line.

Houston has lost three starters at left guard, center, and right tackle throughout the course of training camp and preseason. Instead of Kenyon Green at left guard, the Texans went with former Arizona Cardinals guard-tackle Josh Jones to take the former 2022 first-rounder’s place.

“With our offensive line, we’ve been shuffling guys a lot,” coach DeMeco Ryans told reporters Monday. “As you guys know, we’ve had multiple injuries on the line, and we’ve had to shuffle guys.”

Jones’ flexibility between guard and tackle gave him the advantage to plug at left guard, even though the Texans have been evaluating their line for position flex.

The former Houston Cougar saw his first action with the Texans amid the 25-9 loss to the Baltimore Ravens Sunday in Week 1 at M&T Bank Stadium.

“I thought Josh did a good job in his first time at guard,” said Ryans. “He hasn’t been with us long, so being in a tough spot for him, I thought he accepted the challenge, and he went out and he played good ball for us. So, I’m happy with what Josh was able to do for us on Sunday.”

As the Texans continue to cobble together solutions at guard — at least until Tytus Howard and Juice Scruggs return from injured reserve — Jones will have to do.

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WATCH: Texans LT Laremy Tunsil surveys rainy conditions pre-game against the Ravens

Houston Texans left tackle Laremy Tunsil took a look around the rainy conditions ahead of the Week 1 matchup with the Baltimore Ravens.

Laremy Tunsil is ready to get the regular season underway.

According to video from Aaron Wilson from KPRC-TV, the three-time Pro Bowl left tackle took the field in pre-game warmups Sunday morning at M&T Bank Stadium. The Houston Texans’ blindside protector sauntered about the natural turf and took in the light rain as “Love Train” from The O’Jays blared throughout the Baltimore Ravens’ home venue.

Tunsil is one of two projected starters from training camp to play against the Ravens in Week 1. The Texans’ offensive line is working through injuries at left guard, center, and right tackle. However, Tunsil remains constant at left tackle.

The former Miami Dolphins 2016 first-round pick started all 17 games for Houston in 2022, the first time in Tunsil’s career he completed an entire season’s worth of games.

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Texans OC Bobby Slowik feels ‘really good’ about offensive line

Houston Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik has confidence in the offensive line ahead of NFL Week 1 against the Baltimore Ravens.

The Houston Texans have three question marks across the offensive line, but offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik rests assured as to the answers.

Slowik met with reporters Sept. 7 and felt “really good” when asked about his confidence level with the five-man unit that has sustained injuries throughout the preseason.

“I mean, based on practice, which is all I can go off of right now, they’ve been locked in, they’ve been on it,” Slowik said. “They’ve handled everything we have given to them.”

The definitive vision for the Texans’ offensive line included second-year Kenyon Green starting at left guard, second-rounder Juice Scruggs at center, and fifth-year Tytus Howard at right tackle. Instead Houston will plug sixth-rounder Jarrett Patterson at center and go with new acquisitions Kendrick Green and Josh Jones to address their guard and tackle problems.

“They’ve taken advantage of looks we need to take advantage of,” said Slowik. “They’ve handled issues where there’s issues to be handled. They’ve done a really good job in practice.”

The Texans have key veterans at left tackle in three-time Pro Bowler Laremy Tunsil and right guard Shaq Mason, who has logged 115 starts over 120 activations with the New England Patriots (2015-21) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2022).

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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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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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