Houston Texans: Martinas Rankin changing positions

With injuries plaguing the Houston Texans offensive line, rookie Martinas Rankin started at left guard against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 16.

The Houston Texans drafted Martinas Rankin in the 2018 NFL Draft with the third round draft selection they acquired in the Duane Brown trade for the Seattle Seahawks. The front office and coaching staff envisioned Rankin to be one of the two starting tackles for the Texans for the foreseeable future.

However, being a rookie transitioning to the NFL and injuries kept Rankin off the field early. He didn’t play with the offense until Week 3 of the preseason against the Los Angeles Rams where he played at tackle and guard. Moving into the regular season, he was the swing tackle as the starting tackles were Julien Davenport and Seantrel Henderson. However, Henderson getting hurt and being out for the season in Week 1 placed Rankin in the starting lineup.

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Rankin played at left tackle for the following three games as Davenport was moved to right tackle. A lot of turnover and miscues at the offensive line affected their performance, and the Texans opted in Week 5 to move Davenport back to left tackle and Kendall Lamm to start at right tackle. The Texans had found the most success with the last lineup and Rankin returned to his role as the swing tackle.

Although the Texans added a new wrinkle in Week 13 against the Cleveland Browns when Davenport left the game early in the first half with an injury. Lamm was moved to left tackle, reserve offensive lineman Greg Mancz was brought in to play right guard and the Texans moved Zach Fulton to play at right tackle subsequently keeping Rankin on the bench.

It was only a few drives, but one thing was clear, his role with the team was changing. Coming out of college, one of Rankin’s strengths was his ability to play multiple positions along the offensive line. Although he played some snaps at guard in the past the Texans viewed him as a tackle. However, in Week 16 against the Philadelphia Eagles, the Texans started Rankin at left guard with Senio Kelemete ruled out late. 

State of the Texans provided a video clip on Twitter with head coach Bill O’Brien announcing in his press conference how he’s viewing Rankin more as a guard moving forward.

The move came with some surprise, but the Texans had also made a transaction a few weeks ago and promoted Roderick Johnson from the practice squad. Johnson had been on and off the active roster throughout the season, but him being brought back allowed the Texans to move Rankin inside at guard.

Moving forward the Texans have Davenport, Lamm, and Johnson at tackle. Kelemete, Martin, Fulton as the starting interior lineman, Mancz and Rankin as the reserve offensive lineman. The situation seems fluid with Rankin, but it seems the Texans are more comfortable with him at guard than on the outside right now as they preferred him over Mancz to start at guard.