Texans getting healthier at offensive tackle

Riddled with injuries this season, the Texans got a jolt of improved healthy as several key players returned to practice.

Pro Bowl left offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil is back after dealing with pain and swelling in his knee and missing the past three games.

Right tackle Tytus Howard, as expected, was back practicing after being designated for return from injured reserve after recovering from hand surgery that involved metal pins being inserted to aid the healing process from two broken bones.

With Howard and Tunsil back, the Texans are evaluating the possibility of having Howard play left guard with Kendrick Green placed on injured reserve with a torn meniscus and likely to undergo surgery and having them line up next to center Jarrett Patterson, right guard Shaq Mason and right tackle George Fant.

Middle linebacker Denzel Perryman, who has a broken hand and wrist, returned to practice with a red club on his left hand.

Nickel back Tavierre Thomas returned to practice after missing the past two games after undergoing hand surgery to address a broken bone. He has a protective club on his left hand.

Texans offensive lineman Josh Jones tore a ligament in his hand and underwent surgery, according to league sources. He practiced Wednesday with a club on his hand.

Jones was sidelined last Sunday for a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers and is expected to miss at least another game, per sources.

Punter Cameron Johnston was designated for return from injured reserve after making a full recovery from a calf injury and the team cutting interim punter Ty Zentner.

Green became the latest in a long list of injuries across the offensive line, including Tunsil and Howard, left guard Kenyon Green (torn labrum, out for season), Jones, center Scruggs (strained hamstring, injured reserve), and center Scott Quessenberry (season-ending knee injury, torn anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments).

Scruggs, who remains on injured reserve with a strained hamstring, is expected to be activated within the next few weeks. Ideal scenario for him would be next week against the New Orleans Saints. If not, then he should be ready after the bye in advance of a road game against the Carolina Panthers.

Texans coach DeMeco Ryans praised Patterson, a rookie from Notre Dame, on Monday.

“Jarret has done a good job with what we’ve asked him to do,” Ryans said. “I thought he’s done a really good job of stepping in at center where he’s played primarily guard throughout training camp. Stepping in and playing a new position, a very important position for us, he’s done a really nice job for us and he’s improved each week. Very pleased with where Jarret is.”

The Texans signed veteran defensive end Derek Rivers to the active roster from the practice squad, restored safety Brandon Hill to the practice squad and signed defensive tackle Taylor Stallworth to the practice squad. Stallworth worked out for the Texans last week. He played well for the Texans last season.

Texans offensive lineman Josh Jones tore a ligament in his hand and underwent surgery, according to league sources.

Jones was sidelined last Sunday for a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers and is expected to miss at least another game, per sources.

Although Jones is injured and starting left guard Kendrick Green is out with a torn meniscus and likely to undergo surgery, per a source, to repair the damage sustained Sunday against the Steelers, the overall health outlook is improving across the offensive line.

Starting right tackle Tytus Howard is doing great and is expected to be designated for return from injured reserve this week after undergoing hand surgery in training camp for two broken bones with metal hardware inserted to aid the healing process, per sources. Howard could be activated and play this week against the Falcons, if practice goes smoothly.

Pro Bowl left offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil has been undergoing treatment and making progress after dealing with swelling in his knee and there is some optimism that he could return this week, per sources.

And nickel Tavierre Thomas, who had hand surgery to address a broken bone, is also expected to return to practice this week, per sources.

Plus, punter Cameron Johnston is set to be designated for return from injured reserve after making a full recovery from a calf injury and the team cutting interim punter Ty Zentner.

Green became the latest in a long list of injuries across the offensive line, including Tunsil and Howard, left guard Kenyon Green (torn labrum, out for season), Jones, center Scruggs (strained hamstring, injured reserve), and center Scott Quessenberry (season-ending knee injury, torn anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments).

The Texans could shift Jarrett Patterson from center to left guard when Scruggs is activated. Jimmy Morrissey, elevated from the practice squad last Sunday, or Michael Deiter could play left guard against the Falcons. Another candidate is Nick Broeker, who was claimed off waivers from the Buffalo Bills.

Scruggs, who remains on injured reserve with a strained hamstring, is expected to be activated within the next few weeks. Ideal scenario for him would be next week against the New Orleans Saints. If not, then he should be ready after the bye in advance of a road game against the Carolina Panthers.

Texans coach DeMeco Ryans praised Patterson, a rookie from Notre Dame, on Monday.

“Jarret has done a good job with what we’ve asked him to do,” Ryans said. “I thought he’s done a really good job of stepping in at center where he’s played primarily guard throughout training camp. Stepping in and playing a new position, a very important position for us, he’s done a really nice job for us and he’s improved each week. Very pleased with where Jarret is.”

Aaron Wilson is a contributor to Sports Talk 790

Texans' trick play worked like a charm

Delivering an unexpected halfback touchdown pass on a gutsy trick play, Devin Singletary had perfect touch and accuracy on his throw to tight end Dalton Schultz.

The Texans’ running back hadn’t thrown a pass in a game since his freshman year of college at Florida Atlantic University. That would-be touchdown didn’t work out as his intended target caught the football with one foot out of bounds.

This time, Singletary executed offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik’s play just right. He took a pitch from rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud and lobbed a sharp throw to Schultz on Sunday in a 30-6 victory. The Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense was expecting a run on second-and-goal, and the Texans sold the play with a run look out of a double-tight end formation with Schultz and Teagan Quitoriano in addition to fullback Andrew Beck.

The ball seemed to hang in the air for a long time before Schultz could smoothly haul it in for the score.

“Slow motion, Devin throwing a great ball, back shoulder in the end zone,” Schultz said. “I told him when we sat down on the bench that ball was in the air for 30 seconds.”

“He did a great job, he actually put it in a window between two defenders,” running back Dameon Pierce said. “Shout-out to my boy Dev.”

What did Stroud, the Texans’ record-setting rookie quarterback, think of the throw.

“He liked it,” Singletary said. “He approved.”

In practice, though, it wasn’t nearly as smooth as the Texans were working out the wrinkles of the play. Singletary threw it over Schultz’s head initially.

Slowik still opted to call the play in the game on a second-and-goal at the Steelers’ six-yard line, trusting Singletary to throw the football.

“He did good with the play in practice, as well,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “You know, it takes time. The guy doesn’t throw the ball much, so there’s a lot of anxiety there when you’re in that position and asking the running back to throw the ball.

“It starts first as a play-caller, for Bobby, just having trust in ‘Motor’ to deliver the throw, and ‘Motor’ having trust in Dalton to make the catch. So, it’s really great execution on all levels, coaching and players, and very nice play call at the proper time.”

Slowik was hitting all the right notes with his playbook Sunday, including his decision to have Singletary throw the football.

“Coach Slow was rolling,” Singletary said. “We was feeding off his energy and got a dub. We got the dub, so let’s celebrate.”

Aaron Wilson is a contributor to Sports Talk 790.