The Texans activated Tunsil from the reserve-COVID-19 list two weeks ago, so he had to get up to speed and shed rust in a hurry before getting back on the field against the Jaguars in his first game action since last December.

“I had to battle through some sickness,” Tunsil said. “Try to get well. Try to find a way to stay in shape and help the team any way I can when I had COVID. I’m glad I’m over it. Hopefully, I don’t have to go through that again.”

Tunsil was assigned a relatively low 56.9 blocking grade from Pro Football Focus against the Jaguars, but he wasn’t penalized and didn’t allow a sack. Texans quarterback Tyrod Taylor was only sacked once and the Texans rushed for 160 yards and two touchdowns.

“I’m a tough critic on myself, so there’s a lot of improvement for me,” Tunsil said. “I want to just keep improving the run game and the pass game each and every week.

“Man, we got to do it each and every week. That’s our goal. I think that’s our offensive line goal, to keep the quarterback clean and untouched.”

Heading into Sunday’s road game against the Cleveland Browns, the 1-0 Texans are facing a difficult challenge against a formidable pass rushing tandem against two former top overall draft picks and Pro Bowl selections: defensive ends Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney.

“They are great players,” Tunsil said. “We have to come with our hard hats on and work. It’s going to be a battle for sure. In the game plan, we are mixing up some things to get those boys off track. The main thing is stick to our game plan and just come and be ready to play.

“I love the battle. Let’s do it man. You got to compete and I think that’s the best thing about being in the NFL, is you see great pass rushers every week. Got to be ready to compete.”

One year after signing Tunsil to a three-year, $66 million contract extension that included $50 million guaranteed with a $13 million signing bonus, the Texans restructured that deal this offseason to create $10.106 million in salary cap space. Signed to a three-year, $66 million contract extension a year ago that included $50 million guaranteed with a $13 million signing bonus with an average of $22 million annually, Tunsil's original $16.15 million base salary was converted into a $15.16 million signing bonus. He now has a $990,000 fully guaranteed base salary for 2021 and a salary cap figure of $9.29 million, down from $19.4 million.

His contract and his teammates' respect reflects Tunsil's status.

“He's obviously a generational offensive line player,” center Justin Britt said.

Including the fifth-year club option of $10.85 million Tunsil was paid last year, the deal still has a total value of $76.35 million and was negotiated by Tunsil directly with former Texans coach and general manager Bill O’Brien while being advised by California-based business advisor Saint Omni of Lifeline Financial Group and business manager Laolu Sanni.

“Even though LT has been recognized as an elite tackle, as one of the best in the league, he’s been working for that All-Pro status for nobody to be able to question his elite status and just becoming a better leader for the whole team and leading by example,” Sanni said. “All the hard work that he put in this offseason is definitely going to show this season.”

The Texans, one of the most criticized teams this offseason, delivered a strong performance Sunday in the season-opener.

When asked about the naysayers, Tunsil said they’re far from his focus.

“Let’s keep putting on performances like we did last Sunday,” Tunsil said. “That’s the only thing we can do. Just shut up and work.”

Acquired in a trade from the Dolphins for a pair of first-round draft picks two years ago, Tunsil has a lot of power, strength, agility and quickness working in his favor. Tunsil was flagged for just six penalties last season and allowed two sacks for a 75.4 overall Pro Football Focus grade, according to the analytics-based website.

“He’s a very, very gifted player, there’s no question," new Texans offensive line coach James Campen said. "He’s been blessed with some unique skillsets and he can do a lot of different things very well."

Tunsil maintains a simple approach to the game: working diligently on his technique and blocking the man in front of him.

“I just want to improve as a player, as much as I can,” Tunsil said. “If that’s the run game, pass game, screen game, being a leader, whatever it is, I just want to improve in every aspect.”

Tunsil made major strides in his conditioning, adding lean muscle and upgrading his stamina by lifting heavier weights and performing explosive movements while rehabilitating a torn labrum in his shoulder last year while training with former Texans and Denver Broncos strength coach and physical therapy specialist Billy Voltaire of Volt Performance. He spent a significant amount of time this offseason working with his college strength coach, Dominic Studzinski, who’s now at Liberty University.

Tunsil, Sanni and his brother, Alex Weber, a Houston-based trainer and former Mississippi and Dolphins wide receiver, traveled to Lynchburg, Va., this offseason to train with Studzinski again. The workouts are intense, and the location is remote and allowed Tunsil to focus on self-improvement.

“That's a place that's kind of isolated from everything,” Tunsil said. “It's where my trainer is at, I've been working with him since my rookie year, Dominic Studzinski. Just going out there and getting your mind right, staying focused, just a peaceful environment, just to focus on you, it's good to get back to your roots.”

The improvement and increased comfort level in Tunsil was obvious last season.

“Laremy’s a freak,” Texans offensive coordinator Tim Kelly said. “He's really big. He's really strong. The more we get to work with him, you really see how detailed he is, particularly in his individual technique. It's been really good for those younger guys to be able to see how a man as talented as he is still comes out and works, and you can see him just drenched at the end of the day because he's taking all those reps. It's really important to him.”

Tunsil provided a helping hand this year to those impacted by Winter Storm Uri, distributing supplies in a partnership with the Houston Boys & Girls Club and the Houston Food Bank with Legacy Philanthropy. Tunsil also donated up to $250,000 for relief efforts during the coronavirus pandemic, including donations to the Florida Gateway Food Bank in his hometown of Lake City and the Star of Hope Mission in Houston. Tunsil also set up an email system to help those in need, sorting through the messages to pay electricity bills, car notes and rent.

“From the moment he got traded to Houston, Houston became his new home,” Sanni said. “He’s a natural giver and philanthropy is close to his heart. He wants to look out for the underprivileged and give back and plant seeds and be a helping hand to our community.”

Aaron Wilson has covered the NFL for 20 seasons, including the Texans, Baltimore Ravens, Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars. He has previously written for The Houston Chronicle and The Baltimore Sun. He’s on Twitter: @AaronWilson_NFL and Instagram: @aaronwilson7128.

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