C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans are back in a familiar situation, facing a forced reshuffling of their offensive line amid a new set of injury concerns, particularly with starting offensive linemen Aireontae Ersery and Trent Brown.
Brown is a veteran, Pro Bowler, and a Super Bowl champion. Ersery is one of two second-round draft picks for the Texans in the 2025 draft.
Stroud could have to face a strong Los Angeles Chargers pass rush without one or even both OTs.
Texans LT Aireontae Ersery Undergoes Surgery
GettyAireontae Ersery #79 of the Houston Texans looks on before the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Texans selected Ersery with the No. 48 overall pick of this year’s draft, trading up to select him and then waiving veteran Cam Robinson to install the rookie as Stroud’s blindside protector.
Ersery suffered a hand injury that required a medical procedure, putting his status for Week 17 in serious doubt at the very least. He was a non-participant in the Texans’ first practice of the week on Tuesday.
Ominously, Ersery was not spotted on Wednesday either.
“#Texans rookie left tackle Aireontae Ersery had surgery on his broken hand today, per league sources, to aid healing process with metal hardware inserted,” KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson reported on X on December 23. “Next steps, rest and rehab and then a return to play when pain- strength of hand are manageable. Return undetermined, but not regarded as long-term injury.”
Wilson wrote in a follow-up article that “Brown injured his left knee against Las Vegas and is regarded as day to day, per a league source. He also has an ankle injury.”
Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans told media members on December 23, “Everybody knows we’re banged up at tackle, and we’ll see. We’re on a short week here. We’ll see how that pans out for us.”
C.J. Stroud Gets Honest About Chargers’ Defense
GettyC.J. Stroud #7 of the Houston Texans looks on during warm-ups before facing the Las Vegas Raiders.
Stroud is acutely aware of the challenge the Texans face against the Chargers, who rank third in overall defense and eighth in scoring. LA is also tied with Houston for the sixth-most sacks as a team entering Week 17.
“They play together as one,” Stroud said on December 23. “They’re kind of on a string in coverage, which is a good thing–They rush together. So, they kind of do everything together, which is really challenging. And there’s not one person just doing whatever. So, it’s really sound. And they have great coaching, and they do a really good job of mixing coverage and stuff like that.”
Stroud and the Texans defeated the Chargers 32-12 in the 2024 AFC Wild Card Playoffs, but that was at home in Houston.
Still, Stroud expects a similar atmosphere for Saturday’s tilt with the Texans hosting.
“I would think so,” Stroud said. “We’ll see when we get there, but for us, it’s just trying to do the little things correct. Do the ordinary, or ordinary things, over and over again, and look up at the end of the game and see what the scoreboard says.”
Stroud said he expects a “great environment,” adding that he believes the contest between the Chargers and Texans is “going to be fun.”
The short week adds another challenge for both sides in their playoff push.
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