The Houston Texans spent the offseason making a clear statement about what they want this offense to become. C.J. Stroud is still the face of the unit, but Houston’s front office went to work on the run game and the offensive line with one goal in mind: turn the Texans into a tougher, more physical team.
That shift could end up mattering most when the calendar flips to January. ESPN’s DJ Bien-Aime pointed to the new-look rushing attack as a possible difference-maker for Houston, saying, "The Texans revamping their rushing attack could morph into a deciding factor come January.
Before free agency, the organization traded for the Detroit Lions' David Montgomery. As far as the offensive line, Houston signed guard Wyatt Teller and tackle Braden Smith before drafting Keylan Rutledge in the first round.
Coach DeMeco Ryans desperately wants a physical rushing attack come the playoffs, and these moves could fulfill his wishes."
Houston’s offseason moves all point in the same direction. The Texans wanted more than a better regular-season ground game; they wanted an offense that can lean on defenses, especially when games get tighter and the weather gets colder. After years of not consistently controlling things on the ground, the team added proven blockers and one of the league’s most punishing runners to change that equation.
Montgomery gives Houston exactly the kind of back that can reshape a game plan. He’s known for grinding out tough yards after contact, and that kind of style can help Stroud by making the offense less one-dimensional and keeping the Texans on schedule. Instead of asking the passing game to carry everything, Houston now has more ways to set the tone.
The offensive line additions bring a different kind of value. Teller and Smith add veteran muscle and experience to a group that needed more steadiness, while Rutledge gives the Texans another young piece with starter upside for the long haul. Together, those moves are supposed to make the offense sturdier in both phases.
Houston has reached the postseason in each of the last three seasons, but the next step has remained out of reach. The Texans have shown they can strike through the air, yet playoff football usually comes down to who controls the line of scrimmage and who can finish drives with a run game that holds up under pressure.
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Texans May Already Have Their Next Breakout Stars In House
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Higgins looks positioned to settle into the WR2 job behind Collins and turn that opportunity into a much bigger share of the offense, while Montgomery could be in line for a heavier rushing load if Houston leans more into the run. On the defensive side, Dominique Robinson is a player to watch for the third edge-rusher spot, and Mapu also sits in the mix as the Texans sort through how their depth chart will shake out. None of it is guaranteed, but the ingredients for a few internal jumps are already in place. [Read more 🡒]