The Texans’ offensive line keeps moving pieces around, and the latest twist could come right in the middle of the unit.
After spending the offseason reshaping the front with the trade of Tytus Howard to the Cleveland Browns, multiple veteran signings and several interior draft picks, Houston entered camp with a presumed first five in mind: Aireontar Ersery and Braden Smith at right tackle, Wyatt Teller and Ed Ingram at guard, and rookie Keylan Rutledge at center.
That setup may not be locked in anymore.
According to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, Houston is giving “serious consideration” to starting Keylan Rutledge at left guard and Evan Brown at center.
#Texans are giving serious consideration to this offensive line configuration of Evan Brown at center, Keylan Rutledge at left guard, but no final decisions made. As Cole Popovich has said, they have time to land on their top five guys https://t.co/DuAPW7N6wH
The Texans have said there is no exact deadline for naming the starting offensive line, but the group needs to be settled before preparation ramps up for the season opener against the Buffalo Bills. Even so, Thursday’s preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders offered another clue about where things may be headed.
Houston opened that game with Rutledge and Brown on the first drive, flanked by Ersery, Ingram and Braden Smith. That alignment matters because it points to a possible change in the interior, not the tackle spots.
For much of the offseason, Teller looked like the natural fit at left guard. Houston signed the former Pro Bowler to a two-year deal worth $16 million, and with more than 100 career starts and two Pro Bowl selections, he seemed like the easiest plug-and-play answer on the left side. Teller has spent his entire NFL career at right guard with the Cleveland Browns, but Ed Ingram’s presence on the right in Houston made a move across the line seem likely.
Rutledge, meanwhile, was projected by many to eventually shift from the college spot he played at Georgia Tech, where he lined up at left guard, into the center job. If that move doesn’t happen right away, Jake Andrews is still on the roster and could hold the position until Rutledge is ready.
Brown has put himself into the conversation as well. Signed away from the Arizona Cardinals on a one-year deal, he has shown enough during camp and preseason to stay in the mix.
His value is obvious: he can play guard or center, and he has nearly 70 starts at three different positions over seven NFL seasons. That kind of flexibility has given Houston a real reason to keep him near the middle of the line.
If Brown ends up at center, it would open the door for Rutledge to start at left guard, a spot that fits his game better than center and still gets the rookie on the field right away.
There is still plenty of time before Week 1, and Houston has more to sort through before settling the final lineup. Another preseason game, a joint practice with the Carolina Panthers and roster cutdown day all remain ahead.
For now, the most unsettled jobs appear to be left guard, center and right tackle. Rutledge looks increasingly likely to get a chance, and Brown’s path to a starting role seems to be getting clearer by the day.
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