A false dawn up front.
The Houston Texans entered 2025 determined to end the noise around their offensive line.
After a 2024 campaign that saw quarterback C.J. Stroud sacked 54 times and pressured on nearly 39% of his dropbacks, the front office started over.
Laremy Tunsil was traded, rookies were drafted and veterans were shuffled into new spots. Fans were told the protection problems were finally solved.
Head coach DeMeco Ryans even declared he was tired of talking about the offensive line.
Unfortunately for him – and for Stroud – everyone is still talking about it.
Same problems, new faces
Through the opening weeks of the new season, Houston’s protection woes have barely improved. The Texans have already allowed eight sacks in three games, ranking as the eighth worst in the league.
That may not sound disastrous, but combine it with a pressure rate still above 38% and it leaves Stroud under siege on nearly every passing attempt.
The run game has provided no relief either. Houston ranks near the bottom in rushing efficiency, forcing the offense into predictable passing downs.
Stroud’s regression under fire
Two years ago, Stroud looked like the franchise’s saviour. His rookie season was built on poise, patience and pinpoint accuracy, even when the pocket collapsed.
Now the cracks are beginning to show.
The statistics do not reflect a quarterback who has forgotten how to play. They reflect one being suffocated by constant pressure.
Stroud’s lack of confidence in his protection is glaring. Each time he receives the ball, he looks like he is expecting to be run over.
He is no longer the 2023 rookie who played without fear.
Personnel and coaching under the microscope
The rebuilt line was meant to reset the narrative.
Rookie left tackle Aireontae Ersery has shown promise in flashes but has also been beaten badly on the edge.
Inside, veterans such as Laken Tomlinson and Ed Ingram have struggled to establish cohesion, often allowing free rushers to collapse the pocket.
Chemistry remains missing, and one failed block frequently unravels the entire play.
Coaching has compounded the issue. Offensive coordinator Nick Caley has been criticised for conservative and unimaginative play-calling.
Too many long-developing routes expose Stroud, while the lack of screens or max-protection sets magnifies the line’s weaknesses.
The Texans sit dead last in points per game at 12.7 and bottom of the league in third-down conversions at 24.2%.
The offense has no rhythm.
The ripple effect
The struggles extend beyond Stroud.
Houston’s defense has shown grit, but it cannot carry the burden when the offense fails to sustain drives.
Possession after possession ends quickly, leaving the defense overworked and momentum slipping away.
What could have been a season of progress now feels like a repeat of 2024 – but without a playoff appearance to soften the frustration.
Can it be fixed?
The Texans are not out of answers, but none will come quickly.
Simplifying protection packages and relying more on quick throws could give Stroud a chance. Creative use of tight ends and running backs in pass protection would also help.
Ultimately, the offensive line must stabilise – something that only comes with time, trust and perhaps further personnel changes.
One key player that fans hope to see return soon is senior running back Joe Mixon.
His absence has exposed how much the former Cincinnati Bengals 2017 second-round draft pick papered over the cracks with explosive runs in 2024.
It raises the question: would Houston have reached the divisional round without him?
Summary
Houston promised 2025 would be different, that Stroud would be protected and that the offense could climb toward respectability.
Instead, the nightmare continues: relentless pressure, stalled drives and a young quarterback’s development being strangled.
Until the offensive line improves, the Texans’ ceiling will remain capped and their franchise quarterback will keep running for his life.
