The Houston Texans have taken an unorthodox approach to replace rookie starting right tackle Tytus Howard, who is on injured reserve for a partially torn MCL.
Rather than stick with one player, the Texans have rotated Chris Clark and Roderick Johnson at the right tackle position. In Week 13’s win over the New England Patriots, Clark started and playing 61% of snaps (34) while Johnson played 39% (22).
The Texans allowed three sacks in the 28-22 win over the Patriots.
Coach Bill O’Brien says rotating between the two offensive tackles is in the best interest of the team.
“I think that was just something we felt, again, was in the best interest of the team. We felt like both of those guys had earned the right to play and we felt that that was a good way to do it,” Bill O’Brien told reporters Monday.
Johnson, 24, has two starts at right tackle. Clark, 34, can say the same, while also picking up a start at left tackle in a Week 9 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Similar to the Texans’ current plan at the right-side, Clark and Johnson each played 50% of snaps in that Week 9 win.
According to Pro Football Focus, Johnson has one sack allowed in 222 snaps, grading in at 64.6. Meanwhile, Clark has one in 146 snaps while measuring in at a 50.6 grade.