Texans HC DeMeco Ryans reveals the rookie turning heads in camp

What's easier to forget is how Houston's offensive line allowed 17 pressures to a Patriots defense that finished 26th in the league with only 35 sacks.

That same line struggled to open holes on the ground too, with leading rusher Woody Marks posting a derisory 17 yards on 14 carries, so something needed to change.

After an offseason spent overhauling the offense, and just six days into training camp, DeMeco Ryans sounds like a coach who believes the problems are fixed.

Watch every game of the 2026 NFL season only on DAZN

The 2026 NFL season, including nine international games, is fast approaching, and you can catch every snap on DAZN.

Enjoy an unrivalled viewing experience with an NFL Game Pass subscription, which includes incredible features such as RedZone, NFL Network, Game in 40, Sunday in 60, Multiview, and more.

With prices starting from £179.99 per year or £16.99 per month, you can catch every twist, turn, and touchdown live or on-demand, from the first preseason snap to the Super Bowl.

Sign up for Game Pass on DAZN now and get your front-row seat to the 2026 season.

Ryans: "I'm really excited for our offensive line"

Houston has added guard Wyatt Teller, tackle Braden Smith and first-round rookie Keylan Rutledge to the offensive line since that fateful January loss.

On paper, it's a much-improved unit, and one that should give Stroud every chance to deliver in what is essentially a prove-it year.

Running back and touchdown machine David Montgomery arrived from Detroit, too, tasked with improving a ground game that ranked 28th in the league with just 3.9 yards per carry last year.

Ryans is over the moon with how all the new pieces have come together.

"I'm most excited to see our improved running game," he said on NFL Network's Training Camp Live, available in full to NFL Game Pass subscribers on DAZN.

"I'm really excited for our offensive line; they've done a really great job here over the first six days of camp.

"They've been physical, they've been finishing the right way, I love the feistiness of our group," he continued.

"I love that we have a great back and forth going on between our defense and our offense, and I love seeing that."

Ryans raves about rookie Rutledge

Ryans singled out rookie Rutledge, taken with the 26th overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft, for the highest praise.

"You see [No.] 66 running downfield, taking the mike linebacker 15 yards downfield, it's like 'wait, is that an offensive lineman that far downfield?' Yeah, that's him," Ryans said with a smile.

"You see the feistiness, you see him shoving after the play, just a gritty old-school offensive lineman that we haven't seen in a while, and that's really jumping out in our camp this year."

It wasn't the first time Ryans has spoken highly about the Georgia Tech product.

That kind of recognition would still matter in a vacuum, but when you consider Rutledge has been practising against one of the best defensive lines in football, it matters even more.

And while he could be forgiven for taking his time to adjust to the speed and rigours of the NFL, it sounds like that simply hasn't been the case.

"He doesn't play like a rookie, so it's fun to watch him play," Ryans added.

The Texans host the Bills in Week 1, a baptism of fire for Rutledge and Co. against the likes of Ed Oliver, T.J. Sanders, and Greg Rousseau.

If Ryans' comments are anything to go by, they'll be ready.

Check out NFL Game Pass for more training camp updates

For comprehensive training camp news, NFL Game Pass subscribers should watch NFL Network shows Good Morning Football and Inside Training Camp on DAZN.