'Our Focus Is Playing Great': Texans Coach DeMeco Ryans Gives Update on Tytus Howard
Sometimes, forward-thinking can be a little too forward.
Following team practice on Tuesday, DeMeco Ryans took to the podium to field questions from onlooking reporters regarding the team and certain players, and after the news broke that Houston Texans offensive tackle Tytus Howard would be "out for a while," his status was atop the list of questions from the media.
"Do you expect that he has a chance to be ready for the first or second game of the season?" A reporter asked Ryans.
It's not a bad question, especially since the injury is fresh and obviously worrying given Scott Quessenberry's season-ending ACL tear less than a week ago. But Ryan's response showed that he's continuing with a one-day-at-a-time mindset above all else. And that's exactly what the Texans need.
"We'll see," Ryans answered the reporter. "We're far away from the first game. There are a lot of things that can happen between now and the first game. We'll take care of that once we get there, [but] right now, the focus for us is going out and playing a great game on Thursday night."
Ryans made clear his priorities regarding the team, but to the reporter's point, it is worth looking into Houston's now-dwindled line. Without two veteran starters, the Texans will need to find replacements — and not just for the preseason.
Best case scenario, Howard returns for the season opener, and Houston gets a chance to try out its backup options behind Quessenberry and elsewhere on the line to help it determine depth. Worst case, Howard suffers a setback and the Texans have to begin the season without two of their stars up front.
With the Keaton Sutherland signing, the Texans have given themselves another strong candidate for the job, though who ends up with the role and for how long is yet to be seen.
On a more positive note, in the absence of Howard and Quessenberry, Houston's starting left guard Kenyon Green has only increased his effort and intensity, which garnered him high praise from his rookie coach in the same presser.
"[Green] has done a really good job," Ryans said. "He loves football, [and] you can see it. He's excited when he's out there playing. He's competitive and he's continuing to get better. It's fun to watch [him] ... continue to grow."
However, Houston's offensive line shakes out for the preseason and beyond, players like Green are exactly what Ryans is looking for. Howard may not be back just yet, but his presence is already being missed on the line.
And while that's clear, it's only making the Texans' other linemen work harder, which is all that Ryans and the rest of the team can ask for.
The Houston Texans will take the field for the first time since January on Thursday night, facing the New England Patriots in Foxborough. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. CT.
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