The Texans have made significant upgrades throughout the roster this offseason. None of them were more important than the investments they made in the offensive line.
Spending nearly $119 million in guaranteed money in recent months on three players including Laremy Tunsil (3/$75M), Tytus Howard (3/$56M) and Shaq Mason (3/$36.5M), the Texans hope that along with second-year pro Kenyon Green and rookie second-round pick Juice Scruggs, they’ve fortified their offensive line for years to come.
While Scruggs was penciled into the starting lineup by most upon being taken 62nd overall, through the first seven days of training camp, the only run he was getting was with the second and third-team units.
It wasn’t even exclusively at the center position. The Texans, while continuing to shuffle various linemen around, had Scruggs taking reps at both guard positions at times as well.
When last season's starting center, Scott Quessenberry, who had been working exclusively with the first team, went down with a torn ACL/MCL toward the end of practice two weeks ago, Scruggs immediately stepped in to take the reps and hasn’t missed one since.
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Scruggs said his ability to seamlessly step in as the team's starting center is because of Quessenberry’s guidance.
“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. And yeah, 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. So, when that happened, all that preparation – it allowed me to go out there and just be comfortable.”
While playing at Penn State, Scruggs said the competition he faced daily in practice and the weekly opponents in the Big Ten Conference prepared him for the type of athleticism, speed, and power that he’s now lining up across at the NFL level.
The former Nittany Lion team captain said he’s now got some of the best interior defensive linemen to test him and help him improve every day.
“Especially Maliek (Collins), he’s a very shifty guy, very creative in pass game,” Scruggs said. “Sheldon too, they just make me better, and I’m glad I get to go against those guys because that’s what you’re going to see week in and week out in this league.”
There was a time, just four short years ago, that Scruggs thought he’d never see a football field again as a player.
In early 2019, then just a 19-year old sophomore at Penn State, Scruggs was involved in a near fatal car accident. He suffered a fractured vertebra and a concussion.
After spending most of the year in a back brace and riding to class on a scooter, Scruggs missed the entire ‘19 football season but set his sights on a comeback.
He returned to play in seven games during the 2020 season before making his first start on opening weekend of the 2021 regular season.
Scruggs started all 13 games for the Nittany Lions in ‘21 and all 12 during the 2022 season, in which he served as a team captain.
The Texans' second-round pick in this year's draft said that having the game and nearly his life taken away just four years ago, has him operating with an entirely different perspective these days.
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“I’m very thankful, just to be alive, to be honest with you,” Scruggs said smiling. “God is good. Just to be here, it’s all Him. Just to play football, it’s a blessing, and I don’t take it for granted. Every time I come out here, I’m working as if it’s my last day playing, so I’m just very thankful, very blessed.”
For a guy that’s been through what Scruggs has, to even get to this point as a starter in his first year in the NFL, it isn’t surprising that the young center has turned heads with his work ethic and drive.
Head coach DeMeco Ryans said he was actually most impressed with the rookie’s ability to troubleshoot issues during his debut last Thursday against the Patriots.
“To see him operate and be able to fix problems out there on the offensive line, it was really cool to see,” Ryans said. “Juice has done a really good job and I expect him to continue to grow. As a young player, he’s in a really good spot, and I’m excited to see Juice continue to play.”