(SportsRadio 610) - There are certain things you can control as an organization. Injuries aren't one of them.
However, it sure sounded like the Texans could've prepared themselves for the likelihood of Kenyon Green missing a significant amount of time this season.
"I would say, specific to Kenyon, it was just a matter of when, not if. This was going to happen," Caserio said.
Caserio acknowledged that they knew back in May that Green's shoulder injury could be a problem at some point.
Why would they not have taken the lack of depth at left guard more seriously than they did?
They signed former Dolphins guard/center Michael Deiter in March. They signed former Wisconsin lineman Tyler Beach, who can play both guard/tackle positions. They even gave looks to Keaton Sutherland, who was waived by the team with an injury designation on Tuesday.
What do all of the aforementioned have in common?
They're not currently on the roster.
The left guard for the Texans may very well have not even taken a practice snap for them yet.
"Yeah, I think we're working through that process here, and I think we'll have a better idea next week once we start to get ready for Baltimore," Caserio said. "We'll try to put the best five out there that give us the best chance against Baltimore, and we'll see how it goes."
The projected starting offensive line at this point in time is anyone's guess. Outside of Laremy Tunsil at left tackle and Shaq Mason at right guard, you might have better luck hitting the jackpot on the daily Pick-3 than picking starters for the other three spots, especially at left guard.
Recently acquired lineman Josh Jones, who the Texans traded a fifth-round pick to Arizona for along with Kendrick Green who was acquired from Pittsburgh for a sixth-round pick are options at this point.
Jones, a former third-round pick out of the University of Houston, has experience at both tackle positions and played guard as well.
He could be a legitimate option at left guard, but will have limited time to learn the offense ahead of the regular season opener in Baltimore on Sept. 10.
Meanwhile, Kendrick Green had recently taken practice snaps as a fullback for the Steelers.
The former third-round pick out of Illinois may be a better fit in the Texans scheme than what he was in Pittsburgh, but the Texans could've also addressed this issue much earlier.
Tytus Howard was just given the fourth richest contract for a right guard in the NFL, signing a three-year, $56 million deal including $36 million in guarantees.
He's in danger of not beginning the season due to a broken hand and if he does, head coach DeMeco Ryans didn't exactly rule out the possibility of him playing left guard upon his return.
"For Tytus, right now, the only thing is for Tytus just to get healthy and be back and ready to go," Ryans said.
As much as Ryans has discussed the importance of the offensive and defensive lines being the tone setters, particularly one of which is responsible for protecting their new franchise quarterback, it seems downright negligent to have operated this way to this point.
It's a stretch, but if this feeble attempt to patchwork an offensive line together for week 1 against the Ravens works out, you won't even blink.
In the meantime, Ryans has to plug forward with what he's got to work with.
"Guys are dialed in with meeting time, with preparation – all guys have to do is do their job and do it as well as they can do it and that's all we can ask for," Ryans said. "Over time, they'll continue to gel together and come together as one. All we need guys to do is to go out and be a professional and do what they need to do to get their job done."
Translation: Figure it out.
