Texans’ Kenyon Green Headed For IR

The Texans offense added injury to insult in their 21-13 loss to the Jets on Thursday night with an injury to starting guard Kenyon Green, who is expected to be placed on injured reserve, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

There remains an outside chance that Green could return this season, depending on his rehab from his dislocated shoulder and the Texans’ progression in the postseason, per Rapoport.

Green started all nine of the Texans’ games at left guard this season, though he has struggled in pass protection with 27 pressures and five sacks allowed, both league-highs among guards, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). The 15th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft has not lived up to expectations as part of a struggling Houston offensive line this season.

This is the second year in a row that Green has suffered a significant injury to his left shoulder. He missed all of the 2023 season after hurting his shoulder in the preseason, forcing the Texans to trade for former third-round pick Kendrick Green from the Steelers.

Green finished Thursday night’s game at left guard, and he will likely take over the starting job for the rest of the regular season. He did the same after Kenyon Green‘s injury last year, but only made three starts before a torn meniscus ended his season. Kendrick Green will need to stay healthy to keep the Texans from having to rotate their offensive line once again this year.

Houston will also need additional guard depth to see out the season with 2023 seventh-rounder Nick Broeker as the only guard on the active roster. Quality offensive linemen are rarely available on the trade market during the season, so the Texans may turn to practice squad center Scott Quessenberry, who hasn’t played in the regular season since 2022 but does have some experience at offensive guard.

More to come.