Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans voices confidence in Kenyon Green as left guard questions mount
Despite the fact Texans left guard Kenyon Green has been statistically one of the worst in football this year, which led to a brief benching in Sunday's win over the Indianapolis Colts, the head coach is voicing confidence in the third-year player.
No guard has given up more pressures this season than Green's 33 and he's allowed five sacks, which along with right guard Shaq Mason is tied for second-most among guards.
It was apparently bad enough Sunday for the Texans' coaching staff to bench in the first quarter against the Colts. Jarrett Patterson looked the part as Green's replacement for a drive, but suffered a concussion after delivering a key block to help Joe Mixon to a 14-yard touchdown run.
Green was put back in the game after Patterson's injury, but continued to struggle.
So it's a valid question to ask whether they stick with Green, or go in a different direction. Kendrick Green is also on the roster and right tackle Tytus Howard has experience playing guard, though he's much better at tackle and is paid like one.
Here's what Ryans said when asked about Green on Tuesday.
"Kenyon has done fine," Ryans said. "He had some bad plays. A lot of guys had some bad plays, and everybody is asking about Kenyon and nobody feels worse about this than Kenyon. He knows he has to play better, he will play better and let's go to work.
"That is what it is about. It is not about everybody trying to figure out if Kenyon is out. When Kenyon is ready he will be ready to roll and we won six games with Kenyon and we have to keep going."
"For me, I go back and I go to the film. You go to the film and you show players what they have done well and the good reps that they have had and just get back to doing that. Kenyon has had a lot of good reps for us and I expect him to have some good reps for us this Thursday."
