After a 2024 campaign in which the Houston Texans offensive line could only be considered an abject failure, even a sliver of progress this season would've been well received within the organization. And truthfully, considering the new faces that Nick Caserio was able to bring in during the offseason, a sliver of progress was about all anyone expected from this unit in 2025.
But thus far this season, the right side of the Texans offensive line has proven to be capable of more than just moderate improvement. In fact, you could make the case that one of the bright spots of the entire Texans offense has been the performance of the Ed Ingram, Tytus Howard tandem at guard and tackle respectively.
Ed Ingram in particular has emerged as a revelation for the Texans. For just the price of a 6th round pick, Houston was able to acquire Ingram from the Minnesota Vikings, and seemingly overnight, the former 2nd round pick who was something of a disappointment in Minnesota turned into the highest-graded guard in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus.
But Ed Ingram isn't focused on the recognition from PFF and other outlets. His only concerns are embracing the fresh start in Houston and continuing to do his part in helping the Texans offense find its footing.
"I feel like being here is like the new start that I needed. I feel like I’m respected here and I’m valued as a player and I just love this team," Ingram told Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 Houston. "I hear about stuff like this, like from my teammates and stuff talking about like, ‘Hey, you’re the highest graded PFF player and all that stuff. But this whole season I’ve just kind of been focusing on just putting my head down and working and just kinda just giving all the glory to God."
But besides the scenery -- which includes Texans offensive line coach Cole Popovich, who Ingram claims, "has been really hitting on going back to the fundamentals and attacking the basics" -- has anything else changed for the fourth-year guard?
"Playing next to Tytus, that’s my boy," Ingram explained. "I feel like me and him are a really good duo together. We always talk about right side and like how we just start like trying to clamp down the right side. No matter what whatever what else is going on with the whole game, we want to be the right side to be doing our thing.”
Tytus Howard believes he and Ed Ingram can be 'dominant'
For the second consecutive year, Tytus Howard has been a steady, although not spectcular, presence on the Texans offensive line. But as he plays alongside a guard who is by PFF's calculations the best player at his position in the entire NFL, Howard now believes he and the Texans offensive line can be far more than just serviceable.
“I mean y’all see the tape, y’all see the clips, he’s physical. He brings that every day,” Howard said of Ingram. "I know he’s gonna keep doing it and getting better every week and to be that No. 1 guard in the league. I already feel like he’s the best guard. I’m looking forward to helping him and you know be a dominant right side."
If Ed Ingram's performance doesn't fall off at any point this season, it's possible he could end the year as one of the more surprising All-Pro selections of the season. And if that's how things played out, he'd become the first Texans offensive lineman to be named an All-Pro since Duane Brown in 2012.