Every team goes into the final week of the preseason needing to have questions answered by at least one position group.
This preseason is no different for the Texans in that regard.
Unfortunately for the Texans, they weren’t planning on having to address the left guard position in camp this preseason, they thought that was sewed up last year at this time.
With the Texans hoping second-year left guard Kenyon Green could build off of a rocky rookie campaign, the team selected former Penn State center Juice Scruggs in the second round this year.
They spent nearly $120 million in guaranteed money this offseason on extensions for the likes of left tackle Laremy Tunsil, right guard Shaq Mason and right tackle Tytus Howard.
With their entire projected starting offensive line signed through at least 2026, it appeared that the Texans had finally solidified a position group that has struggled with consistency for years.
There have only been two instances in franchise history in which the Texans have managed to keep the same starting unit together for more than one season.
During the 2010-2011 seasons (Duane Brown, Wade Smith, Chris Meyers, Mike Brisiel and Eric Winston) and the 2019-2020 seasons (Laremy Tunsil, Max Scharping, Nick Martin, Zach Fulton and Tytus Howard).
There’s no question that the 2010-2011 unit was the best in franchise history.
Former Texans running back Arian Foster finished first and fifth in league rushing those seasons. The Texans have the opportunity to be just as potent with a young star in the making in Dameon Pierce, who finished 17th in rushing last season with 939 yards in just 13 games.
Moreover, the Texans have a franchise quarterback to protect in rookie C.J. Stroud this season and beyond.
The Texans have addressed a shortage at the tackle position, recently trading for former University of Houston tackle Josh Jones. The Texans also brought in sixth-year pro George Fant earlier this training camp, who could begin the season at right tackle if the injured Howard (broken hand) isn’t ready by Sept. 10.
Making the former Texas A&M standout, Kenyon Green the 15th overall selection in the 2022 NFL draft, the Texans thought they had the left guard of their future.
A plug-and-play guy.
Oh they plugged and he played, but by seasons end, Green graded out dead last among 77 guards, earning a 37.7 score from Pro Football Focus.
He allowed 47 pressures, including four sacks and 12 quarterback hits while committing 12 penalties, the second most at his position in 15 games played.
Undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery this offseason, Green was brought along slowly the first week of training camp. While taking the bulk of reps at left guard, he’s slowly but surely found himself on notice.
Running with the second unit in Sunday nights preseason finale against the Saints, Green continued to show that in fact he’s like his new offensive line coach Chris Strausser intimated weeks ago.
“I think he’s more into the details right now than what he’s been in the past, but he’s got a ways to go,” Strausser said.
Michael Deiter, a versatile interior lineman who has started at both center and guard during his first four season with the Dolphins was signed this offseason and replaced Green on the first team line.
Dieter may not be the long term answer, but in a pinch, he’s looked like a starting level NFL guard and Green simply has not.
To make matters worse, rookie Juice Scruggs suffered a hamstring injury on the first series Sunday night. His status for the regular season opener is now in question.
Speaking with the media Monday, Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans implied that something much larger is at play that has affected Green’s progress to this point.
“With the offensive line situation, Deiter, he was the guy that deserved more reps, so we gave him some of the reps seeing how he looked with the first team,” Ryans said. Kenyon has done a great job of battling through. He’s been dealing with some things.
“He’s battled through a lot, and it’s been tough on him, but I’m proud of Kenyon and what he’s battled through that everyone may not know. Tough kid going through a lot, but he’s tried to go every single day and he pushed it for us, and I’m proud of his effort and what he put out there for us.”
All is not lost for Green yet, but regardless of where the former Aggie was drafted, it appears he has lost the opportunity to get further on-the-job training.
Putting their rookie quarterback at further risk would be compounding what already might’ve been a costly mistake.
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