DeMeco Ryans didn’t sound like a coach in a mood to wait around on Wednesday.
After the Texans’ ugly 20-6 home-opening loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, Houston is staring at an 0-2 start for the third time in four seasons, and the issues up front are impossible to ignore. C.J. Stroud was under constant duress on Sunday, getting pressured on 45.5% of his dropbacks against man coverage, while the run game sputtered to just 18 rushing yards on 12 carries.
That’s the backdrop heading into Sunday’s AFC South opener against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium, and it’s why the offensive line has become the center of the conversation. Ryans was asked directly about it, and the message was clear: changes are on the table.
The biggest spotlight is on the right side, where veteran Trent Brown had a rough afternoon against Cincinnati’s pass rush. His struggles laterally showed up again and again when Houston was forced into obvious passing situations, leaving Stroud with little room to operate.
That’s pushed the discussion toward Blake Fisher. The second-year tackle, a 2024 second-round pick out of Notre Dame, drew plenty of praise in training camp for his mobility and his ability to set the edge with force. Now, the calls to get him into the starting lineup have only gotten louder.
If Houston does make the move, it could mean more than just a switch at right tackle. It would also open the door for Wyatt Teller to settle in as a full-time starting guard next to rookie center Keylan Rutledge, giving the Texans a more athletic and physical interior than they showed in Week 2.
There was at least one bit of good news for Houston out of Indianapolis on Wednesday. Colts head coach Shane Steichen confirmed that Alec Pierce has been placed on Injured Reserve with a heel injury, sidelining the deep threat for Sunday’s game.
Pierce has been a problem for Houston in the past because of what he can do down the field, so his absence matters. Indianapolis still has plenty to work with, though, including Josh Downs, Keenan Allen and rookie tight end Tyler Warren in the passing game. Taylor also gives Jones a clear threat underneath.
Houston is also waiting on the official Wednesday injury report for Pro Bowl receiver Nico Collins, who is dealing with a hamstring issue.
The Texans may be 0-2, but that record hasn’t buried them before. They came back from 0-2 starts to win the AFC South in both 2018 and 2023.
And with all four AFC South teams entering Week 3 without a division game played, Sunday feels like a reset button for the entire race. The winner leaves Lucas Oil Stadium with a 1-0 edge in the division standings. The loser drops into a deep 0-3 hole, one only one team in NFL history - the 2018 Texans - has ever climbed out of to reach the postseason.
In Other News...
Texans Enter Colts Week With One Growing Problem On Offense
Nico Collins has become the latest concern for a Texans offense that has not had much room for error even with decent passing yardage from rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud. Collins has missed multiple practices with a hamstring injury and is unlikely to play against the Indianapolis Colts, which leaves Houston heading into a divisional game without one of its most dependable targets.
The timing is less than ideal for an offense already trying to find a better balance. The passing game has moved the ball at times, but the unit has still had trouble turning production into points, and the running game has not been able to carry enough of the load. With Collins trending toward sitting out, Houston may have to lean harder on the run and spread the ball around to more receivers to keep the offense from stalling again. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Offense Faces Early Turning Point Against Colts
The Texans head into Week 3 with a little more pressure than anyone in Houston probably expected this early, and the matchup with the Colts feels like an immediate check on where the offense is headed. Both teams are 0-2, so this is less about October scoreboard watching and more about which side can stop the early-season slide before it really starts to define the year.
For Houston, the questions are all on the offensive side, where C.J. Stroud could be set up for another big passing day if the game script leans that way. There is also the possibility of Woody Marks getting a larger share of the backfield work, along with more chances for tight ends Foster Moreau and Marlin Klein to show up in the personnel mix, giving the Texans a few different ways to search for a spark against a division rival. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Head Into Colts Showdown With Availability Concerns That Could Matter
The Texans head into Sundays game at Lucas Oil Stadium with some real availability questions hanging over a matchup that already feels important in the AFC South race. Houstons final injury report includes five players who are either out or questionable, and the list features key starters Nico Collins and Ed Ingram, the kind of names that can shape how the offense and protection plans come together on the road.
Indianapolis is dealing with its own health concerns, with several players listed as out or questionable and cornerback Charvarius Ward among those whose status is still unsettled. For a Texans team trying to keep pace in a division game away from home, the final availability decisions on both sides could end up mattering just as much as the game plan. [Read more 🡒]