Texans’ reshuffled offensive line yields zero sacks against Chargers: ‘Whoever we put out there, we got to do our job’

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – They did it again. The Texans’ dramatically overhauled offensive line took on another new configuration Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Tytus Howard shifted to right tackle from left guard after starting right tackle Trent Brown was ruled out due to knee and ankle injuries Jarrett Patterson plugged in for Howard at guard.

And Blake Fisher, normally the Texans’ extra tackle in jumbo packages, started at left tackle.

Rookie left tackle Aireontae Ersery tried to play four days after undergoing surgery to repair a broken and dislocated thumb with metal hardware inserted to aid the healing process. However, the team felt like it was too soon for Ersery to get back out there. Both Ersery and Brown are expected back this season, per league sources.

The line adapted as quarterback C.J. Stroud had the luxury of plenty of time in the pocket as he delivered a pair of deep touchdown passes in the first quarter. Stroud was sacked zero times for the second week in a row. He has been sacked a career-low 23 times this season one year removed from enduring a career-high 52 sacks in the regular season.

In a 20-16 victory at SoFi Stadium, Stroud was only hit once against the NFL’s fourth-ranked defense led by pass rushers Tuli Tuipulotu and Khalil Mack. Neither hit Stroud on Sunday.

“With the big plays to start the game, it was just really great execution starting with the O-line,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “We got to show up for some guys up front with the offensive line. It starts with having great protection. Our guys did a great job there.”

Fisher, a former second-round draft pick and All-American at Notre Dame, allowed no pressures, per Next Gen Stats. Howard, a former first-round draft pick who has shown his versatility by starting at every position over the years except for center, allowed one pressure.

“We still, as a group, we want to continue to get better every week,” Howard told KPRC 2. “We’re still not where we wanna be at, but we’ve got guys in the room who are able to take coaching. We’re all working together. We knew the job we needed to be doing to get it done, and we’ve been doing it. We came here for only one thing.

“Whoever we put out there, we just got to do our job. We’ve got great coaches. They’re gonna put us in some great positions. We’ve just got to handle them.”

During the offseason, offensive line coach Chris Strausser was fired a long with offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik. Cole Popovich was promoted from assistant line coach to head offensive line coach and run game coordinator.

Five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil and his expensive contract were traded to the Washington Commanders. Right guard Shaq Mason was released. Left guard and former first-round draft pick Kenyon Green was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles. Starting center Jake Andrews was acquied off waivers from the New England Patriots, reuniting him with Popovich, his position coach at Troy University, and Ersery was drafted in the second round. Right guard Ed Ingram was acquired in a trade from the Minnesota Vikings.

Allowing eight sacks in a playoff loss to the Kansas City Chiefs may have represented the final straw for the organization.

It was that kind of substandard performance that triggered watershed changes in the leadership of the position group and major personnel changes. If the Texans don’t allow eight sacks and 14 quarterback hits to the Chiefs, perhaps they would have made franchise history as the first Texans team to win a divisional round playoff game and advance to the AFC championship game.

That game may have marked the breaking point for the coaching staff and personnel department, leading to what coach DeMeco Ryans called a reset of the line.

It’s a new day in Houston for the offensive line, and a new singular voice leading them in Popovich, a former Patriots offensive line coach mentored by legendary New England assistant coach Dante Scarneccia.

“I think the biggest thing is really just want to have a tough offensive line that plays the game in a way that the whole team can kind of see,” Popovich told KPRC 2 during training camp. “There’s a toughness established from our group there, right? We’re not shying away from any kind of contact. And then, really, the other thing would be just a smart group.

“I don’t want missed assignments. That’s the biggest things. We’re trying to play clean football, trying to eliminate bad football. Play very tough, be assignment-sound, and I think we’ll be okay if we do those things."

Although the offensive line has still had some rough moments, this game wasn’t one of them.

They delivered a solid performance as the Texans extended their NFL-leading winning streak to eight games.

“I think it goes back to our line,” Stroud said. “I thought our line played great. None of us are perfect, we make some mistakes and we have to get those things fixed, but it’s all about winning these hard games because it’s going to come down usually to one score. You can’t put your head down, even if you do, you have to snap back fast."

There has been plenty of criticism of the offensive line over the past three years, much of it accurate, some of it way over the top.

The narrative is changing, though, and Popovich has been instrumental as an agent of change along with new offensive coordinator Nick Caley, his former colleague in New England.

“Guys who are able to fix the things that they need to fix and continue to get better week in and week out,” Howard said. “That starts with coach Popovich, he’s doing a great job of whoever’s in there, coaching everybody up the same.

“We’ve got a lot of guys that take huge ownership in their job, and everybody wants to be better, man. So, early on, it was rough, but we were still making our way. We’ve still got room to grow, to continue to be better, but we’re gonna do that for the playoffs.”

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com