The Houston Texans had an impressive first week of the 2024 NFL season, defeating division-rival Indianapolis, 29-27. While it was notable that the team got off to a 1-0 start, the team’s initial contest also highlighted some of the positive changes made on the offensive side of the football.
While second-year quarterback CJ Stroud had a ‘mediocre’ game by his standards, throwing for 234 yards and two touchdowns, the victory helped highlight the many weapons at his disposal. Emerging wide receiver Nico Collins went off for over 100 yards receiving, while newcomer Stefon Diggs had two touchdown catches. Former Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon made his Texans debut in a big way, carrying the ball 30 times for 159 yards and a touchdown.
Meanwhile, the protection for Stroud was fairly solid. He was sacked three times in 32 passing attempts. While that number needs to shrink throughout the 2024 season, Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans still had good things to say about the entire offensive line…and one player, in particular.
Texans Coach has Faith in Kenyon Green
Offensive lineman Kenyon Green has had an up-and-down career since getting drafted in the first round by the Texans in the 2022 NFL Draft.
“When I first got [the head coaching job for the Houston Texans], Kenyon [was a] first-round pick,” Ryans explained. “You’re expecting him to be that guy. Starting… playing for you, the first year. It didn’t work out that way. He had some injury issues and things to clean up. He was able, this second year with them, he put the work in, in the offseason.”
“In February, he was off-sight training, really getting his body ready for this season and it’s what he’s showing in our first game of the year. It goes back to the work that he put in February when nobody’s watching, nobody’s thinking about what he’s doing, he had it on his mind. And I could see it last year, just him being around, although he was on IR, just seeing how he was in our meetings and he’d come out, like, ‘Coach, man I’m ready. I want to play. I miss being out there.’ So, you saw eagerness, you saw a guy who’s passionate about the game. He put the work in and we’re seeing the benefits of the work that he’s put in.”
“From Kenyon, I see the second play of the game, you see Kenyon the way he comes off the ball and the way he finished in such a physical manner on the second play of the game that let me instantly know how he was going to play the entire game,” Ryans continued. “You saw a relentless, finish mentality, you saw the physicality, you saw the quickness getting up to the second level.”
O-Line will be Key to a Super Bowl Run
Following their impressive victory on Sunday, many around the NFL began to crank up the Super Bowl chatter surrounding the Houston Texans. More and more, it seems critics and pundits are considering them as up-and-coming contenders to lift the Lombardi Trophy.
However, as Coach Ryans stated, the key to that success will start in the trenches. Houston’s often unsung offensive line will be charged with keeping Stroud on his feet, as well as clearing running lanes for Mixon and fellow rusher Dameon Pierce.
The unit consists of Green at left guard, along with Juice Scruggs at center. The left side of the line features guard Shaq Mason and tackle Tytus Howard. The line is headed up by left tackle and four-time Pro Bowler Laremy Tunsil. They will look to provide the blockade for the Texans’ offense when they host the Chicago Bears (1-0) on this week’s edition of Sunday Night Football.
Main Image: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images
