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1 hour ago, Macklemore said:

I like the deal. The TE room needed to be beefed up after losing Brevin Jordan for the year.

Seems like Berrios is going to make the team because of his return ability, so the last WR slot likely was coming down to Metchie or Hutchinson, and I’d rather keep the latter because of his YAC ability and skill on running reverses. We’re thin at TE so seems like a good move vs just cutting Metchie (even though by all accounts he was having a good camp)….

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Posted
11 minutes ago, Ignatius said:

Seems like Berrios is going to make the team because of his return ability, so the last WR slot likely was coming down to Metchie or Hutchinson, and I’d rather keep the latter because of his YAC ability and skill on running reverses. We’re thin at TE so seems like a good move vs just cutting Metchie (even though by all accounts he was having a good camp)….

Metchie was having a good camp, but he just hasn't been the same since coming back and he doesn't have the explosiveness shown by the other receivers.

They sent him to a play where he knows some people and if he can make the roster he is going to play in games that matter.  

Don't know much about the tight end coming back other than he supposedly can catch.  

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Posted

Great news!

Ersery looks very promising. Very happy we got rid of Tunsil and made wholesale changes to the OL. They were the antithesis of SWARM last season.

 

How Texans rookie Aireontae Ersery is ushering in a new era of smash-mouth play on offensive line

 Summarize

Jonathan M. Alexander

Houston Texans offensive tackle Aireontae Ersery stands on the sidelines between drills during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025.

Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle

It was only a few minutes after Aireontae Ersery was drafted that the 23-year-old left tackle checked his phone. Hundreds of text messages were flooding in from friends and family congratulating him on being drafted by the Houston Texans. 

But one text from a number he didn’t have saved stood out. 

“Hey, it’s C.J. (Stroud), man,” the text read. “Excited to have you on the team.” 

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Ersery wasn’t sure whether the message was fake or real. Several notable draftees received calls from people pretending to be GMs, only to find out the calls were pranks.

But “to heck with it,” Ersery thought, and responded anyway. 

“I’m going to die on the O-line for you,” Ersery texted back. “I’m going to die out there.” 

Turns out it was Stroud, who relayed the story after the Texans' preseason win over Carolina on Saturday. 

LOOKING GOOD: A promising start for C.J. Stroud and Texans' first-team offense

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When asked about these comments, Ersery’s facial expression doesn’t change. 

There’s no laugh or grin. He’s straight-faced because he meant every word, even if it was only said in the figurative sense.

“I just wanted to let him know what type of player he was getting, how my mind works, how I went about my business,” Ersery told the Chronicle. “My playing style and why I play like that. I just wanted him to know that somebody has got his back out there.” 

Ersery describes his playing style as “physical and aggressive.” He’s adamant he’s not a lineman who plays with finesse. 

“I want to run through you,” he said. “Each and every play.”

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That’s likely a welcomed reprieve for Texans’ Twitter, which had the impression that the players on last year’s offensive line were filled with pretty boys who cared more about how they looked off the field. 

The line’s play on the field in 2024 helped re-enforce that narrative whether it was true or not. They often looked out of sync and not on the same page. And they gave up the second-most sacks in the NFL, including eight in the AFC’s divisional round against the Kansas City Chiefs. 

But new offensive line coach Cole Popovich, and Ersery, the Texans’ second-round pick, are helping to usher in a new era of smash mouth play, providing hope that things have finally changed. 

To be an offensive lineman under Popovich, one must be relentless, or as Stroud put it Saturday, “you’ve got to be really gritty, want to grind, want it dirty, want it in the worst way.”

This new offensive line group — with four new starters — has displayed those traits. 

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But in many ways it starts with Ersery, whom the Texans hope will protect Stroud’s blindside for many years to come.  

“I think ‘Tae’ has one of the best mindsets I’ve seen from a rookie in my couple years in the league,” Stroud said. “He wants to be great. He asks the questions. Going against Will (Anderson) and Danielle (Hunter) every day makes him really good.”

‘He’s just a good player’

Ersery initially began training camp as the second-team right tackle behind Blake Fisher. He took the starting role a week later. 

Then Cam Robinson, the starter at left tackle, went down with an injury two weeks ago. Ersery moved over to left tackle and hasn’t looked back. Through two preseason games, a joint practice against the Panthers and the last two weeks of training camp, it appears he may be the answer the Texans were looking for after trading Laremy Tunsil to the Commanders for several draft picks. 

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Ersery has dropped back in pass protection 20 times, according to NFL’s Next Gen Stats, and has only allowed one quarterback pressure. 

“He loves football and he works,” offensive coordinator Nick Caley said. “So, we just got to keep going at that trajectory and keep pushing him. He wants to be coached.”

The Texans loved Ersery's mindset and what he was made of. They initially tried to trade up from No. 58 to No. 38 with the New England Patriots to get him, offering picks No. 58, No. 79 and a 2026 third-rounder for No. 38. 

ROSTER PROJECTION: Projecting the Houston Texans' 53-man roster one week before cut day

But they were rebuffed. They instead traded up from No. 58 to No. 48 when Ersery slipped and drafted him. 

“It wasn’t hard to see on the tape that he had a certain level of ability, and he’s got great size and strength and length and uses that well,” Popovich said. “He plays the game the right way in terms of some of the things we were looking for organizationally, like finish, toughness and effort.

“He’s just a good player. Put on the tape and you could see it.” 

Turn on the tape from his first two preseason games and you see Ersery moving defenders, clearing paths and creating massive holes for his running backs. 

And he’s keeping pass rushers away from Stroud long enough for the quarterback to find the open receiver. 

Right tackle Tytus Howard had three words to describe Ersery. 

“He’s the truth,” Howard said. 

‘Going to be a long day’

Ersery wants to make defenders feel his power on the football field. 

He wants you to know, “it’s going to be a long day,” he says. 

This season, he’ll be a vital part to Houston’s success whether he plays at left or right tackle when Robinson returns from an injury. The veteran left tackle practicedfor the first time since suffering the injury in practice at the Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia. 

Before his injury, Robinson, who was signed to a $12 million contract this offseason, was the presumed starting left tackle. It’s unclear if it will remain that way. The lineup featuring Ersery at left tackle, Laken Tomlinson at left guard, Jake Andrews at center, Ed Ingram at right guard, Howard at right tackle has hands down been the best lineup in camp. 

Coach DeMeco Ryans, who wasn’t ready to reveal exactly what they’d do, said the plan is to mix and match lineups to seek the best fit. 

“However the lineup looks, it will shape itself out,” Ryans said Monday.  

Ersery said he’s fine with that. He admits he hasn’t done anything yet. And he’s willing to do whatever it takes wherever he plays. 

“Nothing is easy,” Ersery said. “Everything is earned in this league, so just put myself in a position to earn the right to go out there and play my best. 

“I’ve got to give all the credit to God.”

Posted

Back and Forth Between Offense and Defense | Training Camp Day 19 Recap

The Houston Texans were back on the practice field Tuesday after a Monday walkthrough. 

Here are 11 observations from the workout. 

  1. It was a good day for both sides of the ball in this practice. The offense moved the ball well. The defense made a handful of good plays. There was plenty to like from both sides. The passing attack had a good day getting the ball out on time. The defense had some success on the longer-developing plays. It was a solid day with one practice left before the joint practice with the Lions. 

  2. C.J. Stroud got the ball out fast. The quick-passing element of the offense will be essential this season. Stroud looked comfortable in his decisions. Numerous pass catchers were recipients of the passes. Stroud didn’t hold onto the ball too long. He would get rid of it low or out in front of receivers if players didn’t get open. It was a good day for the quarterback. He only had one or two throws that looked like he would even consider wanting back. 

  3. Stroud had one of his best passes of camp during this practice. It was a play-action pass completed to Justin Watson. Stroud sold the fake well. The protection was stellar. Stroud whipped it down the left sideline over Kamari Lassiter into the waiting hands of Watson. It was a perfect play from the offense. It also showcased that when the blocking is there, the offense can push the ball downfield. Watson had a good day as he still fights for a roster spot. 

  4. The offensive line shuffled a couple of times. The first line was the group that had been together the most recently. Aireontae Ersery was at left tackle, Laken Tomlinson was at left guard, Jake Andrews was at center, Ed Ingram was at right guard, and Tytus Howard was at right tackle. Cam Robinson returned to practice. He protected Stroud later in practice at left tackle. When Robinson was at left tackle, Juice Scruggs was at right guard, and the other three spots stayed the same. That was the offensive line for the aforementioned perfect play. Robinson also worked as the second-team left tackle. He has only ever played left tackle in his career, so he will either start at left tackle or he will back up Ersery. 

  5. Aireontae Ersery had a tough day. The rookie got abused on three consecutive plays in one team period. Veteran defensive end Derek Barnett got into Ersery, forced him back, disconnected from him, and got to Stroud. The next play, Ersery almost allowed Barnett to get to Stroud on a slow-developing screen. Danielle Hunter flew past Ersery for another sack. It was a bad stretch for the rookie. Ersery is only playing left tackle now. It has been weeks since he has ventured to the right side. It would seem he is ahead of Robinson to start at left tackle. 

  6. Tytus Howard seemed to have locked down the starting right tackle spot.Ersery doesn’t seem like an option right now. Blake Fisher is dinged up, and even when healthy, he has played poorly. The other tackles aren’t starter material. The Texans began camp with the hope that Howard would be the starting right guard. Ed Ingram and Juice Scruggs are the right guard options for the Texans right now. Howard has been the best player at right tackle in camp. 

  7. Dameon Pierce had a full practice. He had some nice moments on the field. He showed some burst and acceleration. The rushing attack didn’t have much on the day. Offensive coordinator Nick Caley spoke about Pierce as if he were a known quantity for the running back room. With Joe Mixon’s status unclear, Pierce and Nick Chubb are the first two running backs available for the offense. Pierce seems set to make this roster despite missing a good portion of camp. 

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  8. Neither rookie from Iowa State has snatched a clear role. Jayden Higgins rotates with Xavier Hutchinson, but Hutchinson makes more plays. Hutchinson did have a bad drop at one point. Higgins doesn’t look bad, but sometimes he is winning as the ball has already made its way out of Storud’s hands. Jaylin Noel had an excellent play. He caught a back-shoulder pass from Stroud. Noel held on as Kamari Lassiter came flying into the picture. Lassiter tagged Noel as he went by, but I had Lassiter early for a “tackle” attempt, so Noel turned it upfield and gunned it. They are still growing into the offense, but haven’t forced their way onto the field. 

  9. Defensive end Derek Barnett was quite good. The veteran gave Ersery plenty of problems. He is a solid backup and immediately made an impact as he had a pretty full practice. He worked primarily with the second team, but the Texans will rotate the defensive line a lot. When they’re rotating, Barnett has a clear role. 

  10. Nickelback Arthur Maulet has had some bad luck. The officials have thrown some bogus penalty flags on him during practice. Today was another cheap flag. Wide receiver Braxton Berrios slowed down and ran into Maulet, but the ball wasn’t close. Maulet didn’t initiate the contact. The official threw the flag. Maulet disagreed. Defensive backs coach Dino Vasso voiced his displeasure. Maulet is a fascinating player on the roster. He is the only player who works out with Jalen Pitre in individual portions of practice. Myles Bryant had previously worked there, but he works at safety now. It will be interesting to see if Maulet’s specialized set of skills is enough for him to make the roster as Pitre’s backup. 

  11. The Texans ran an end-of-half scenario at the end of practice. It was 80 seconds, from their 35-yard line, up seven, with one timeout. The goal was to get into field goal range at least. A quick pass to the middle by Stroud was followed by a quick pass right to Christian Kirk, who got out of bounds. Jalen Pitre broke up a pass intended for Higgins. Stroud kept the drive alive with a nice conversion in the middle to Dalton Schultz. Stroud threw a ball away into the dirt. Hutchinson caught a pass from Stroud. Stroud had to throw the next one away. Kirk caught the ball on fourth down, and the Texans used their timeout to stop the clock. Stroud burned some clock with a throwaway, leaving just enough time for the kick. 

Posted

Can’t help but think that some of the OL struggles are due to a combination of new players, new position coach, new scheme, and (most important) playing against Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter every day.

Cautiously optimistic….

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