With Charlie Heck on the COVID-19 list, veteran offensive lineman Marcus Cannon could be starting at right tackle for Texans in their season-opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Cannon, a three-time Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots, is listed on the Texans' depth chart as the starter at right tackle.
Heck was placed on the COVID-19 list Monday after a positive test. Since he is vaccinated, he could return at some point this week if he tests negative consecutively.
But if Heck is unable to play, expect to see Cannon for the first time since 2019, when he was with the Patriots.
Cannon opted out of last season due to COVID-19, then was traded to Houston during the offseason. He missed all of the Texans' preseason action to recover from arthroscopic knee surgery.
Texans head coach David Culley said Monday -- before it was announced Heck would be placed on the COVID-19 list -- that Cannon looks healthy, but not ready for the full workload.
"That’s why this week will be very important," Culley added.
Cannon, 33, is in his 11th NFL season. All of his previous years have been spent with the Patriots, where he established relationships with now Texans general manager Nick Caserio, executive vice president of football operations Jack Easterby, and they run similar offensive philosophies.
“He’s been there and don’t that," Culley said. "He’s got experience in what we do here offensively so there is some carry over there and his leadership. He does things the right way. He knows exactly how we want things to be done and he’s been good for our young guys and I suspect when he is back and healthy and ready to go, he is going to be a big contributor for us."
Culley said the coaching and medical staff would monitor Cannon throughout the week see how much progress he's made by Friday.
Then, Heck went down with COVID-19.
That could thrust Cannon into that "big contributor" role before the Texans initially planned.
Cannon did not want to put a percentage on his health, rather than to say he's taking it day-by-day.
"It’s a process," Cannon said when asked how long it would take to knock off the rust. "Just taking it day-by-day, there are little things. There’s some things that stick with you and there’s other things that you have to watch on film over and over again, work on every day, and just put the time and effort into getting back playing the way an offensive lineman should play."
Others listed as starters on the Texans' the offensive line: left tackle Laremy Tunsil, left guard Tytus Howard, center Justin Britt and right guard Max Scharping.
Brandon Scott manages digital content for SportsRadio 610. Follow him on Twitter @brandonkscott.
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