The Houston Texans completed Week 3 of voluntary organized team activities (OTAs) last Thursday and will have mandatory minicamp from Tuesday, June 11, to Thursday, June 13. Once mandatory minicamp finishes, they will have a month and a half off before training camp begins.
One of the biggest headlines surrounding their offensive line is the competition for the starting center job.
The Houston Texans will have a competition for the starting center job
Jarrett Patterson and Juice Scruggs will compete for the starting center job.
The Texans drafted Patterson in the 6th round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Injuries to their offensive line allowed him to start at center for the first seven games of his rookie season. Unfortunately, he fractured his ankle in Week 8 and missed the rest of the season.
The Texans drafted Scruggs in the 2nd round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He missed the first ten games of his rookie season because of a hamstring injury. He returned in Week 12 and started six out of their last seven games at LG because Tytus Howard suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 12.
So far, Scruggs has been impressive during OTAs.
Juice Scruggs has been impressive
Scruggs has fully recovered from the lingering hamstring injury and is finally taking reps at center, his natural position. He has worked hard this offseason doing agility drills and is in the weight room. As a result, he has impressed during OTAs, and will likely start at center.
Scruggs’ hard work has impressed their head coach.
DeMeco Ryans is impressed by Juice Scruggs’ work ethic
“Juice is looking great,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “He’s been here for most of the offseason. Even before we started our offseason program Juice was here working out with our strength staff. You can see, right, the growth. You can see he’s a little stronger, looks better. I’m encouraged where Juice is right now.”
Scruggs has also impressed their quarterback.
C.J. Stroud is impressed by Juice Scruggs
“Juice has been doing amazing,” Pro Bowl quarterback. C.J. Stroud said last season. “He’s been a really pivotal part to our success lately, and ever since he’s gotten back, he’s been really happy to be playing. It was hard for him to be out, so I think he’s done a great job up there.
“Him and L.T. holding the left side down and just communicating well and trying their best to gain a lot of trust and chemistry in a little amount of time, which I think they’ve done a great job of. Juice is very talented and I’m super excited to be working with him for the next couple years.”
Will Juice Scruggs carry this momentum into the regular season?
For More Great Gridiron Heroics Content:
Follow me on X @JacksonLoschko and follow us @GridironHeroics for more great content. If you have any questions, you can message me on Linkedin. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in NFL and College Football, click here.
