The Texans had a scare Tuesday when starting right tackle Tytus Howard was carted off the field during practice at a high school in the Cleveland area.
There is uncertainty about the nature and extent of the injury, but Howard was again held out of practice on Wednesday. His availability for Friday’s preseason game at Pittsburgh is unclear.
When asked about Howard following Wednesday’s practice, Texans coach DeMeco Ryans only offered, “Tytus is good.”
But there is a legitimate concern given the sixth-year right tackle’s past battles with injuries. The 28-year-old is coming off a season-ending knee injury in Week 12 last season. Earlier last season, he was on injured reserve after breaking his hand during practice.
Howard, a former first-round draft pick, has started 61 games since his rookie season but he has missed time because of injury throughout his career. He did manage to play all 17 games in 2022.
While several reports said the 6-foot-5, 322-pound lineman was carted off the field on Tuesday, Howard actually seemed to refute the accounts via social media. He implied on X that he walked off the field.
The Texans are clearly counting on Howard this season to help protect second-year quarterback C.J. Stroud. Howard was given a three-year $53 million extension that kicks in this season to do so.
If Howard’s injury is serious, replacing him at this point could prove difficult. But the Texans did sign 31-year-old Cameron Erving in the offseason and also drafted Blake Fisher out of Notre Dame this past spring.
While many of the starters were held out for last week’s preseason opener against Chicago in Canton, Ohio, Ryan plans to give them some time on Friday. He said the injuries and the offensive line won’t change that plan.
“We keep going with our offensive line,” Ryans said to reporters. “We’re always moving guys around, having guys play different positions, so it doesn’t – whoever’s available and ready to go, they’ll be out there for preseason.”
