(SportsRadio 610) - Texans rookie offensive lineman Kenyon Green made his preseason debut against the San Francisco 49ers last weekend and immediately looked like a starting left guard in the league.
After missing valuable time in practice due to a concussion, Green played 35 snaps with the second team offense and quickly showed his value as a run blocker.
Texans general manager Nick Caserio told the media Wednesday afternoon that while Green has missed some time, he's still in a building stage.
"I think the biggest thing is getting ready to play more extensive snaps. If he's going to be able to do it, build up your stamina, build your conditioning, continuing to work on your techniques," Caserio said. "He's got a good attitude, he's got a good approach. I think he's just in a stage of continue to build on some of the things that he's done and try to stay consistent day after day and week after week."
It remains to be seen if the Texans will allow Green to ease into a starting role with the team, or throw him into the fire.
I wouldn't assume the latter.
Green could benefit from easing into the role by platooning him at left guard with veteran Justin McCray, who saw his fair share of snaps in that position during the preseason.
The Texans are in the position that they don't have to rush any player. They can certainly afford to take some time with Green and his development given the depth they have on the interior line with McCray and Scott Quessenberry, either of whom can play guard and center.
Texans head coach Lovie Smith seemed impressed with Green's play during the practices following his return from a concussion, and equally so in his debut against the 49ers.
While Smith has been reluctant to name starters ahead of the team's opening game against the Colts, he seems content in letting Green play catch up and his progression to a starter happen naturally.
"Normally, a first-round draft pick will eventually move into that role, but it will play itself out," Smith said.
Meanwhile, Caserio, when answering questions about Green and his development, did shift the focus of his answer to the Colts and the challenges their defensive line brings week one.
"We're going to face inarguably two of the better defensive tackles I would say week one in (Deforest) Buckner and Grover (Stewart), who I would say is underrated relative to the rest of the league," Caserio said. "So, we got two big ass guys on the inside of the Colts front that we're going to have to deal with, so we're going to have to be prepared to block them. We're going to have to be prepared to block the guys on the edge in Kwity (Paye) and (Yannick) Ngakoue. We're going to have a big challenge in front of us."
Green didn't have much time for on the field work between returning from his concussion to playing against the 49ers.
That small amount of preparation time for the rookie speaks to his work ethic and ability to take in and apply that information.
He received high praise from veteran Justin McCray earlier in camp for those traits.
"When (Texans offensive line coach George Warhop) is talking to guards I'm making sure that he's hearing everything he's talking to about the guys that are playing just so he doesn't make the same mistakes when he gets back in there," McCray said. "K is going to be a really good player. He learns a lot, learns fast and I think he's going to do really well."
The Texans open the 2022 regular season at home against the Indianapolis Colts on Sept. 11. Kickoff will be at 12 p.m. CT on SportsRadio 610.
Shaun Bijani has spent the last 16 years covering the Houston sports scene for SportsRadio 610. Follow him on Twitter @ShaunBijani.
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