Tag: Tytus Howard

Texans OC Bobby Slowik praises Tytus Howard for position switch

Tytus Howard’s move to guard might have benefitted the Houston Texans’ playoff chances.

Tytus Howard is all about helping the Houston Texans win down the stretch. It’s why the “tackle only” is breaking his rule to shift inside for potentially the rest of the regular season.

Howard has taken over at left guard for the second time in as many years while helping Houston secure a second AFC South title. Second-round pick Blake Fisher is now starting at right tackle, thus bolstering the pass protection entering Week 16.

Howard impressed in the 2012 victory over the Miami Dolphins, allowing three pressures and one sack. His 69.0 pass-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus marked his second-highest finish of the 2024 season.

Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik praised Howard’s willingness to step in for Juice Scruggs amid injury. Without his impact, the Texans might not have clinched the AFC South division title before traveling to Arrowhead Stadium with a showdown against the Kansas City Chiefs.

“I can’t say enough how much credit I give Tytus for being willing to go to right tackle to left guard. Not only are you sliding in but you are switching sides, that is a massive move,” Slowik said.  “For him to be able to do that and play the way he did was awesome.”

The Texans kick off against the Chiefs at noon CT. The game will be nationally televised on NBC.

Texans vs. Bills: Houston without starting offensive lineman against Buffalo

The Houston Texans will start Blake Fisher at right tackle for the first time in his career against the Buffalo Bills.

Tytus Howard will be watching from the sidelines on Sunday.

The Houston Texans’ starting right tackle is out with a hamstring injury against the Buffalo Bills, meaning second-round pick Blake Fisher will make his first start.

Drafted out of Notre Dame, Fisher was brought in as a potential long-term replacement for Howard in the offseason, though he mostly saw reps during training camp at left tackle because of Laremy Tunsil’s injury.

During his time with the Irish, Fisher started 26 games on the right side and one game at left tackle. The Texans will be with the remaining starting four linemen to block for C.J. Stroud.

Other inactive players for the Texans include running back Dameon Pierce, linebacker Jake Hansen, wide receiver Steven Sims and Derek Barnett. Houston activated second-year defensive end Dylan Horton from the NFI list and elevated J.J. Taylor from the practice squad.

The Texans will receive the ball to begin the second half.

Texans training camp: Tytus Howard excited about offensive line’s progression

Tytus Howard is excited to see the direction of the Houston Texans’ offensive line entering 2024.

If any position group must stay healthy in 2024, it’s the Houston Texans’ offensive line.

Eight different rotations took the field in 2023 en route to an AFC South division title. Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud did enough to evade consequential damage while running for his life on certain Sundays.

Tytus Howard missed 10 games last season due to multiple ailments, including a season-ending knee injury.

Kenyon Green, Houston’s 2022 first-round pick out of Texas A&M, missed the entire season after suffering a shoulder strain in the final preseason game against New Orleans.

Juice Scruggs, Kendrick Green and Jarrett Patterson all spent time on the injured reserve, with Scurggs finishing the season out of his natural center position due to need.

Even Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil missed two games because of a knee issue that’s kept him out of offseason seasons.

So yes, the Texans must have stability in the trenches if they expect to win more than the division. Howard, however, feels like Houston is ahead of schedule since nearly everyone is healthy.

“We’re in a whole better place,” Howard said after Tuesday’s practice, the first in shoulder pads and first open to fans. “We’ve got all the guys healthy right now. We’ve got that camaraderie. We’ve been playing together for a year. I’m just happy to be a part of the O-line this year, healthy.”

Howard, Houston’s first-round pick in 2019, might face the most pressure heading into 2024. Last offseason, he inked a three-year extension worth $56 million to remain a fixture on the offensive for Stroud entering the DeMeco Ryans era.

A broken hand kept him out most of training camp. A knee injury sidelined him starting in November until last week when players reported for camp.

Since being drafted out of Alabama State, Howard’s played one entire season in Houston. Even then, he only played seven snaps in the 19-14 win over Tennessee on Christmas Eve after leaving in the first quarter.

Howard knows he’ll need to stay healthy if he plans on sticking around Houston long after the 2024 campaign. He’s feeling healthy after rehabilitating the knee earlier this spring and is trying to control what’s in his reach.

“I’m doing what I can do to stay healthy and play the best I can play,” Howard said. “But I feel like the O-line’s in a good place right now, and we’re only going to get better.”

The projected starting five include Shaq Mason, Scruggs, Howard, Kenyon Green and Tunsil. So far, four of them have seen nearly every rep against the first-team defense coming out of the huddle.

With Tunsil sidelined, second-round pick Blake Fisher has seen a majority of reps in his place. Ryans considers these reps valuable, even if the former Notre Dame star serves as a backup this season.

Howard remembers the transition from college to training camp and how much dialogue goes into preparation. Now entering Year 6, he’s been pleased with how Fisher has carried himself through practice, even after a bad rep.

“We’ve been pouring into him, and he’s getting better every day,” Howard said. “He’s learning a lot from me and LT. He’s going to be a great player himself, too.”

As for Tunsil, Howard knows his running mate on the opposing side will be back when near 100%. That might be the best plan, especially given the history of Houston’s injury woes.

“I think they’re just taking his stuff a little different, but LT’s doing great,” Howard said. “He’s in great shape; he’s feeling good.”

Texans OT Tytus Howard returns to practice on day 1 of training camp

Tytus Howard was back in action for the first day of Houston Texans training camp.

The 2024 season will be crucial for Houston Texans offensive tackle Tytus Howard and his long-term future with the organization.

He’s starting off on a high note to begin training camp.

Howard, who missed nearly half of the 2023 campaign with a season-ending knee injury, returned to practice and fully participated in drills on Thursday morning. While still not at 100 percent, the sixth-year offensive lineman was healthy enough to work with the first-team offense at right tackle.

“It was good to see Tytus back,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “[He] missed some time with the surgery, so good to see him back healthy and having an opportunity to compete.”

Howard, who signed a three-year, $56 million contract extension last offseason, underwent season-ending knee surgery after being carted off in Houston’s Week 12 loss against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Howard, who enters the season as the projected starting right tackle, also suffered a broken hand in training camp, causing him to be placed on the injured reserve and miss the team’s first four games.

When healthy, Howard has been a serviceable starter at multiple positions. After Kenyon Green and Kendrick Green suffered early season-ending injuries, Ryans shifted Howard inside to left guard, leaving George Fant at right tackle.

Since undergoing surgery, Howard hasn’t worked out with the rest of the team. He missed voluntary OTAs and did not participate during drills at minicamp last month since he was still in recovery.

While Howard returned to practice, his Pro Bowl counterpart Laremy Tunsil did not. Tunsil is in the building but did not partake in drills as he’s still rehabbing from knee surgery earlier this offseason.

Ryans said that certain players will be on “different schedules throughout camp” so Tunsil may miss some practices. That’s fine so long as he’s ready for the season opener against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oli Stadium on September 8.

According to the second-year coach, he’s on schedule to return.

“Everybody is on track for the season opener,” Ryans said. “That’s what this is all about, getting guys ready to go when we kick off the season opener.”

What’s the current state of Houston’s offensive line entering 2024?

Protecting C.J. Stroud is the Houston Texans’ top priority, but how does its offensive line look ahead of training camp?

The Houston Texans displayed confidence in one position group during an offseason full of roster-altering moves.

Without any significant additions to the offensive line, Houston will attempt to trot out the starting five it envisioned last season: Laremy Tunsil, Kenyon Green, Juice Scruggs, Shaq Mason and Tytus Howard.

That group never played a snap together last year since Green suffered a season-ending shoulder injury during the final week of the preseason. And Houston’s trenches were inconsistent at best since it was a revolving door of offensive line combinations due to injury.

According to SumerSports, all six combinations played less than 229 snaps together. Still, they must prove their elevation status if they hope to enter the contender conversation. 

Still, they must prove their elevation status if they hope to enter the contender conversation. 

Green debuted a noticeably slimmer frame at OTA’s after spending time away from the facility. Texans coach DeMeco Ryans praised the former first-round pick’s work ethic ahead of the season.

“Now we get to see what type of football player he is,” Ryans said.

Green started 14 games with little success during his rookie season. He drew 12 penalties and was graded as one of the lowest offensive linemen in the league by PFF. However, Houston’s improved offensive environment should benefit Green, whose pedigree as a mauler in the run game should help lift the ground-and-pound attack.

Howard and Scruggs played out of position last season because of necessity. With Green back in competition for the left guard spot, they can return to tackle and center, respectively.

Entering Year 1 of his three-year, $56 million extension, Howard played six games at left guard and one at left tackle before an injury ended his season. He’s openly admitted to being happy about returning to his original position for the 2024 season, posting to his X account ‘RIGHT TACKLE ONLY.’

Tunsil and Howard are one of the league’s top tackle tandems, landing in the top five of most rankings a year ago, including No. 3 in Touchdown Wire’s. 

“It feels like forever ago that we saw Laremy Tunsil enter a draft freefall after a certain video was leaked by who knows who, and fans watched in amazement as a surefire franchise tackle plummeted down draft boards. Now entering his seventh season, Tunsil is in the conversation for the best tackle in the game alongside San Francisco 49ers tackle Trent Williams, and has become a franchise centerpiece after the Texans traded for him in 2018. Alongside Tunsil is an unsung product of Alabama State, who also was a bit of a controversial selection on draft day, having not competed in a bigger conference during his time in college. Both Tunsil and Howard have proven they are much more than their draft day experience, and have turned into a fantastic pair of blockers for their new potential franchise quarterback C.J. Stroud.”

It turned out that Stroud would become a franchise quarterback, and he has a pair of bookend tackles. Tunsil remains one of the game’s best despite falling out of some top-10 rankings, but that should only add more fuel to the fire.

The entire offensive line seems to have a chip on their shoulder ahead of the season. Mason took note of the Pro Football Focus top 10 AFC offensive line rankings, which notably left the Texans off the list.

Mason, who joined Houston via trade last offseason, remains steady at right guard as he enters his age 31 season. He allowed three sacks last year, marking seven straight seasons with three sacks or less allowed. 

That leaves Scruggs, who did not get an opportunity to play center after being forced to fill in at left guard once Howard went down in Week 12. He’s still a work in progress after starting one season at Penn State.

Houston has some young players for depth purposes. Jarrett Patterson played center for the first six weeks of the season. Kendrick Green returns from injury to potentially push Kenyon Green for first-team reps.

“I think it’s going to be fun, I’m excited.” Kendrick Green told KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson. “I know a lot of other guys are excited. So, we’re going to get after it and see how it comes out.”

The Texans further addressed their depth in the draft by selecting Notre Dame offensive tackle Blake Fisher. Considered by analysts as a raw prospect with future Pro Bowl potential, Fisher should be a depth piece this season as he develops into a long-term option to replace Howard or Tunsil.

The start of training camp next week will unravel the developing offensive line group, but Houston’s front office appears confident it has the right players to protect Stroud.

Texans OL Tytus Howard feels like an ‘official Houstonian’ following aftermath of Hurricane Beryl

Houston Texans offensive tackle Tytus Howard only needed five years to become a Bayou City native.

Tytus Howard is officially a Houstonian. Who knew after five years with the Texans that he still didn’t feel like a native of the Bayou City?

That changed following the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl on Monday afternoon.

The Texans’ veteran offensive lineman and former first-round draft pick posted photos and videos of his truck submerged in water early on Wednesday to his X account. He also posted a video of his rescue, with multiple Houstonians helping him pull the lifted truck out of the water and into the nearest gas station.

As a reward, Howard provided the heroes with a case of Modelo and celebrated in the parking lot before taking off.

Howard is back in the lab while preparing for the start of training camp next week after suffering a season-ending knee injury in late November. The Texans believe Howard will be good to go for live reps beginning next month and plan to start him at tackle.

Fresh off its first division title, Houston has a backup plan should Howard miss time during the 2024 campaign. With their second second-round pick, the Texans drafted Notre Dame’s Blake Fisher, who started 26 games at tackle for the Irish over three seasons.

Much like his truck, Howard is expected to fully recover after undergoing surgery this offseason in his home.

“He’s doing well,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “We should get him back for training camp.”

And yes, Houston is officially now his city.

Texans OL Tytus Howard feels like ‘official Houstonian’ following Hurricane Beryl incident

Houston Texans offensive tackle Tytus Howard only needed five years to become a Bayou City native.

Tytus Howard is officially a Houstonian. Who knew after five years with the Texans that he still didn’t feel like a native of the Bayou City?

That changed following the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl on Monday afternoon.

The Texans’ veteran offensive lineman and former first-round draft pick posted photos and videos of his truck submerged in water early on Wednesday to his X account. He also posted a video of his rescue, with multiple Houstonians helping him pull the lifted truck out of the water and into the nearest gas station.

As a reward, Howard provided the heroes with a case of Modelo and celebrated in the parking lot before taking off.

Howard is back in the lab while preparing for the start of training camp next week after suffering a season-ending knee injury in late November. The Texans believe Howard will be good to go for live reps beginning next month and plan to start him at tackle.

Fresh off its first division title, Houston has a backup plan should Howard miss time during the 2024 campaign. With their second second-round pick, the Texans drafted Notre Dame’s Blake Fisher, who started 26 games at tackle for the Irish over three seasons.

Much like his truck, Howard is expected to fully recover after undergoing surgery this offseason in his home.

“He’s doing well,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “We should get him back for training camp.”

And yes, Houston is officially now his city.

Where does Pro Football Focus rank Texans’ offensive line heading into 2024 season?

Despite a slew of injuries, Pro Football Focus isn’t too keen on the Houston Texans’ offensive line improving entering 2024.

As the Houston Texans prepare for training camp’s first practice later this month, media outlets prepare to unveil their way-too-early power rankings. Some come with an overall feel of franchises after the offseason.

Others break down position groups and let arguments run rampant before Week 1 arrives. Most recently, Pro Football Focus released their offensive line power rankings heading into the new season.

Houston, which last season allowed 47 sacks to C.J. Stroud and Case Keenum, ranked among the bottom-half rankings at No. 22.

We never got to see the true potential of the Texans’ offensive line in 2023 due to injuries. Houston boasts one of the best left tackles in the league in Laremy Tunsil, especially when it comes to pass protection, and Shaq Mason is still a reliable veteran at right guard. However, the other players on the line are either unproven or young players who so far have not proven to be long-term solutions at their positions. – PFF

To be fair, injuries were a mainstay in trench play last season for the AFC South champions. Mason was the only player to start all 17 games and both playoff matchups at his natural position.

Even though Tunsil was fantastic en route to his fourth Pro Bowl nomination, he missed three games due to a lingering knee issue. Tytus Howard rotated between positions before suffering a season-ending knee injury in late November.

Former first-round pick Kenyon Green was ruled out for the year before the season began with a shoulder injury, thus leading a constant carousel at left guard. Kendrick Green, Jarrett Patterson, Juice Scruggs, and Howard each started at least two games inside, with Green being the only natural guard.

All four players also spent time on the IR, with Scruggs being the only active player by the season’s end. He’s expected to return to his natural center position and remain the long-term option as the Stroud’s snapper.

It might feel low entering the season, but the Texans still have questions about Kenyon Green and Howard’s future status entering the year. Green spent the entire season shedding weight and putting on muscle, so he could be in line for a breakout season if he can stay on the field.

Howard, who before the start of last year’s training camp inked a three-year extension, has dealt with multiple lower-body injuries since being drafted out of Alabama State in 2019. Houston plans on giving him first-team reps at right tackle, but general manager Nick Caserio might have drafted Howard’s replacement in Notre Dame tackle Blake Fisher.

Fisher, who started 27 games for the Irish over three years, likely would have been a first-round pick if he returned to South Bend for his senior season. Consider 2024 a redshirt year for the 6-foot-6 tackle as he transitions to taking on more agile pass rushers.

Compared to the rest of the division, Houston stacks up well. Indianapolis, which features three Pro Bowl linemen, ranked third overall behind Detroit and Philadelphia.

Jacksonville, which added former Buffalo center Mitch Morse, fell one spot behind Houston at No. 23. Tennessee, arguably the NFL’s worst offensive line last season, moved up two spots to No. 30 after adding Lloyd Cussenberry in free agency and drafting Alabama’s JC Latham last April.

The Texans and their hopeful healthy offensive line return to NRG Stadium for the start of training camp on July 18.

Texans minicamp: Laremy Tunsil, Tytus Howard return to practice

Laremy Tunsil and Tytus Howard might not be back at practice, but the tackle duo is back with the Houston Texans for the start of minicamp.

Welcome back Tytus Howard and Laremy Tunsil. 

The Houston Texans starting duo returned for the start of mandatory minicamp Tuesday. Neither practiced as they’re both still recovering from knee surgeries, but they are expected back for the start of training camp in July.

Tunsil, a four-time Pro Bowl selection for the Texans, underwent knee surgery following the season to clean up an issue that arose midway through the year. He’s been working out on his own, away from the complex, looking to rehabilitate the knee back to full strength. 

Howard, who signed a three-year extension worth $56 million prior to the start of last training camp, remains a mystery. He suffered a knee injury that required season-ending surgery in a home loss against AFC South rival Jacksonville.

Howard, a former first-round pick out of Alabama State, has proven to be a sturdy run blocker at right tackle and a multi-purpose chess piece on the line, but injuries have plagued his career in Houston. He’s expected to start at right tackle when healthy.

The Texans believe in Howard but brought in insurance with Notre Dame offensive tackle Blake Fisher. Since the start of camp last week, the second-round pick has taken most of his first-team reps at right tackle. 

While Fisher has experience on the left side of the line, he’s started 26 games at right tackle for the Irish over his career. With Tunsil out, Houston turned to Charlie Heck for blocking the blind side.

When healthy, Tusnil, who turns 30 in August, remains one of the top left tackles in the league. Last season while helping C.J. Stroud become the first Texans player to win Offensive Rookie of the Year, Tunsil allowed 23 pressures on 571 pass-blocking snaps in 2023, according to Pro Football Focus.

The Texans will have a three-day period of camp before taking an elongated break before training camp begins next month. 

Texans QB CJ Stroud admits he was ‘hot’ over Panthers not drafting him

Texans QB C.J. Stroud brought up an interesting story about his Week 8 visit to Carolina.

Everything has seemed to work out for Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, even despite not going with the first overall pick of the 2023 NFL draft. But he’s still not afraid to reveal that going No. 2 made him feel some type of way.

Stroud and wide receiver Tank Dell were guests on the newest episode of the Million Dollaz Worth of Game podcast. When asked about the “craziest thing” that has ever been said to him, the 22-year-old brought up the Week 8 matchup against the Carolina Panthers—who passed him up last spring for his buddy Bryce Young . . .

No. 42, of course, is safety Sam Franklin Jr. And unfortunately for Stroud and company, it’d be Franklin and the Panthers who got the last laugh.

That Sunday afternoon saw Carolina clinch the first of only two wins on the campaign, edging out the visiting Texans on a walk-off field goal from kicker Eddy Piñeiro. Young, in the triumphant effort, completed 22 of his 31 throws for 235 yards and a touchdown while Stroud went 16-for-24 with 140 passing yards and the rushing score.

[lawrence-related id=690733,689308,685189]