
Right tackle Tytus Howard is out for the next four weeks. Composite image by Brandon Strange.
Just when we thought the Houston Texans injury issues couldn't get any worse, news broke on Wednesday revealing another starter will be missing at least 4 weeks of the season.
Texans right tackle Tytus Howard was placed on IR Wednesday.
Just on the offensive line, the Texans have lost left guard Kenyon Green for the season, center Scott Quessenberry for the season, center Juice Scruggs and tackle Tytus Howard for the next four weeks. Ouch.
Howard suffered a broken hand and had surgery on August 7, with an expected return date 4–6 weeks after the surgery.
Howard was practicing with a cast on just yesterday, with many questioning the likelihood of him being available this Sunday against Baltimore.
#Texans Tytus Howard (hand surgery) practicing, in a cast, not practicing: Jimmie Ward (groin, dental procedure), Blake Cashman (strained hamstring), Christian Harris @KPRC2 https://t.co/Xk5mYhXple
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) September 4, 2023
Now, he's done for the next four weeks. So what happened between yesterday and today? Did Howard aggravate the injury during practice, or was he just out there to make the Ravens think he might be available to play? Hard to know for sure.
This Monday marked four weeks since the surgery, and now we'll have to wait another four weeks before Howard is eligible to return. George Fant, who was signed by the Texans in early August, will start in Howard's place this week.
Fant started 36 games for the Jets over the last three seasons, so he does have some experience. The Texans being cautious with Howard makes a lot of sense. The team signed him to a 3-year, $56 million contact extension in July.
So what's the plan for Sunday against Baltimore?
Aaron Wilson is reporting this could be the starting offensive line:
Laremy Tunsil at left tackle, Josh Jones (recently traded for from the Cardinals) at left guard, rookie Jarrett Patterson at center, Shaq Mason at right guard, and Fant at right tackle.
Not exactly what the Texans envisioned for CJ Stroud's first regular season start.
How Astros just put league on notice with dominant pitching, clutch hitting
Jun 26, 2025, 7:08 pm
The Houston Astros didn’t just sweep the Philadelphia Phillies. They sent a message.
In three tightly contested games against one of the best teams in baseball, the Astros leaned on their elite pitching and timely offense to secure a statement sweep. Hunter Brown was electric in the finale, shutting down the Phillies’ lineup and showing the kind of dominance that’s become a defining feature of his game. Bryan Abreu slammed the door with four strikeouts to close out the win, and rookie Cam Smith delivered the deciding blow — an RBI single in the eighth to drive in Isaac Paredes, lifting the Astros to a 2-1 victory.
It wasn’t a series filled with offensive fireworks, but that’s exactly the point. Both teams sent out top-tier pitching throughout the series, and Houston was the team that kept finding a way. For much of the season, the Astros’ inconsistent offense might’ve been a concern in a series like this. But this time, it felt different. The bats showed up just enough, and the pitching did the rest.
Now, with Houston on pace for 96 wins at the halfway point, the question becomes: Is the league officially on notice?
Maybe. Maybe not. But one thing is certain, the Astros have the third-best record in baseball, they’re 17-7 in one-run games, and they’re playing with the kind of rhythm that’s defined their near-decade of dominance. Unlike last year’s uneven campaign, this version of the Astros looks like a team that’s rediscovered its edge. Whether or not they need to take care of business against the Cubs to validate it, their recent run leaves little doubt: when Houston is clicking, there are very few teams built to stop them.
Off the field, however, a bit of long-term uncertainty is starting to creep in. Reports surfaced this week that extension talks with shortstop Jeremy Peña have been put on hold as he recently signed with super-agent Scott Boras. The combination has led many to wonder if Peña might follow the same free-agent path as Alex Bregman, Carlos Correa, and others before him. Boras clients rarely settle early, and Peña, now one of the most valuable shortstops in the game, could command a price tag the Astros have historically avoided paying.
If Peña and even Hunter Brown are likely to get priced out of Houston, the front office may need to pivot. Isaac Paredes could be the most logical extension candidate on the roster. His approach — particularly his ability to pull the ball with authority — is tailor-made for Daikin Park and the Crawford Boxes. Last year, Paredes struggled to leave the yard at Wrigley Field, but in Houston, he’s thriving. Locking him in long term would give the Astros offensive stability and the kind of value they’ve typically targeted.
As for Cam Smith, the breakout rookie is far from free agency and will remain a cost-controlled piece for years. That’s exactly why his contributions now, like his clutch eighth-inning knock to beat Philadelphia, matter so much. He's one more reason why the Astros don’t just look good right now. They look dangerous.
And the rest of the league is starting to feel it.
There's so much more to get to! Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday.
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