Another shutout for Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil against Browns’ Myles Garrett: ‘Doing a tremendous job’

HOUSTON – Laremy Tunsil was bothered when he didn’t earn All-Pro honors earlier this week in one of the few leaguewide distinctions that has eluded the Texans’ Pro Bowl left offensive tackle in his career.

Dealing with that frustration, Tunsil unleashed some of those emotions Saturday as he stonewalled Cleveland Browns star defensive end Myles Garrett again as he was held to zero sacks and quarterback hits during the Texans’ 45-14 playoff victory at NRG Stadium.

After the game, Tunsil was pleased with his performance as he battled through a painful knee injury that briefly kept him out of the game. Tunsil has managed to fight through a lingering knee injury all season, having it drained at least a few times this year.

It was his latest shutout of Garrett, a Pro Bowl selection, former top overall pick and consensus All-American from Texas A&M regarded as one of the top defensive players in the NFL. Tunsil, entering Sunday, had allowed just one pressure in 40 matchups with Garrett since 2018, according to NextGen Stats, for a 2.5 percent pressure rate that’s Garrett’s worst against any offensive tackle. As Tunsil excelled, so did rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud. He passed for 274 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions.

“Can’t say enough about L.T. and his performance versus arguably the top defensive player in the NFL right now, and he’s done it,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “Time and time again, he’s done it. He’s had that matchup. He looked forward to that matchup, and he stands up time and time again.

“He pushed through there, struggling, fighting through injury, and still battles. When you have a left tackle who can do that, that allows C.J. to shine, that allows us to get the ball off. It all starts with protection, and it all starts with L.T. doing a tremendous job against Myles.”

Tunsil did something that has happened in just three other games this season for Garrett: no sacks, no hits in a dozen snaps against each other

With little to no pressure on Stroud, he had plenty of time to pick out his receivers for touchdown passes to tight ends Dalton Schultz and Brevin Jordan and wide receiver Nico Collins.

“Laremy is a top player in this league: top five, top three, top two, not two,” Stroud said. “Laremy is a dog. He was the first person to contact me after I got drafted. I don’t know what he seen, but he seen something special in me and always let me know.

“That instilled a lot of confidence in me. You see him going against some of the top defensive ends and holding it down. I’m super appreciative of him. He’s a brother. I can ask him for anything. He’s always there for me, and I’m always there for him.”

The only quarterback hit for the Browns against the Texans was from Zadarius Smith.

“He got the ball out on time, and it was a little bit of chips and things like that, but mostly quicks and giving him enough time to get it out,” Garrett said. “The man wasn’t too flustered, getting to his spots, being able to slip through a find a gap for him to throw when he needed to, escaping out of the pocket and making throws downfield.

“There was a lot of close plays where we applied pressure, but he made those plays or he got it out quick enough for us to not be able to make that play. He’s showed this same level of play all year. I think he was absolutely exceptional.”

Tunsil had a significant amount of ground to travel, in a short span of time. It was uncanny how easily the Texans’ Pro Bowl left tackle, the highest paid offensive lineman in the game, took off to his right to block an outside linebacker on the opposite side of the field.

“I remember when the Texans ran this protection a few years ago where Laremy went all the way from the left tackle spot and picked up the outside linebacker on the other side of the field to protect the quarterback,” said Brian Baldinger, a retired NFL offensive lineman who’s one of the top analysts in the industry. “Nobody else could do that, except maybe Lane Johnson and Trent Williams. Laremy is special.”

It’s exceptional plays like that one that set Tunsil apart as one of the best offensive linemen to play in the league over the past decade. He was selected to his fourth Pro Bowl this season, and named as a starter for the AFC squad.

SEE ALSO Texans’ Laremy Tunsil makes Pro Bowl again; six players named as alternates

Tunsil reset the market last offseason with a three-year, $75 million contract extension that includes $50 million fully guaranteed, $60 million total guaranteed and a $30 million signing bonus.

Tunsil is the third-ranked pass protector in the NFL among tackles with an 84.8 mark, according to Pro Football Focus. He has allowed just 12 hurries this season, tying him for the second fewest in the NFL and the least in the AFC.

At a lean 6-foot-5, 313 pounds, Tunsil possesses a rare combination of athleticism, strength, power, explosiveness, technique and discipline. Unlike some hefty 300-pound blockers, Tunsil has a build more in line with a sleek defensive end. There’s an aesthetic aspect to his game. He plays with a distinct style and flow.

“I think his athletic ability is elite,” Baldinger said in a telephone interview with KPRC 2. “It’s just the consistency. Laremy is really good at tying his guy up and not allowing penetration in the backfield. He maintains his mentality. He has composure. He dealt with years of losing. Some guy can’t handle it. Laremy did.”

Tunsil is the highest paid offensive lineman in the NFL and one of the highest rated pass protectors.

Tunsil is a creature of habit, maintaining a spartan training regimen with his college strength coach, Dominic Studzinski, currently at Auburn University, and a healthy diet.

Before an overtime road win over the Tennessee Titans, Baldinger watched closely and spoke briefly with Tunsil before the game. Tunsil’s locked in mentality reminded him of NBA stars Le’Bron James and Steph Curry.

“He has a deep belief in himself,” Baldinger said. “Watching him warm up against Tennessee, he has a defined purpose of what he’s doing for his fundamentals. It reminded me of Le’Bron James and Steph Curry, going through their layups and 3-pointers before an NBA game.

“Laremy warms up with a purpose. He hits his sets. It’s about visualization. He goes out there and plays the way he sees the game. It transfers mentally and in how you play.”

Tunsil, 29, acquired in a blockbuster trade from the Miami Dolphins, is a former first-round draft pick from Mississippi who has excelled at protecting the blind side of Texans rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud, an NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate.

He was recognized in balloting for the Pro Bowl split between players, coaches and fans.

“It’s an honor, always a huge blessing just to be with those guys,” Tunsil said. “It never gets old man. That was one of the goals for sure that I set at the beginning of the season, along with just staying consistent, helping the team win games, all those things.”

The top goal? Protecting Stroud, of course.

“Facts,” Tunsil said. “That’s the main goal right there.”

Tunsil is not happy with how Pro Football Focus rates him as a run blocker. The majority of the Texans’ running plays for Devin ‘Motor’ Singletary are behind No. 78.

“Yeah, man, I don’t know what it is about the run-blocking,” Tunsil said. “Maybe it’s PFF not seeing some things about me. I don’t know. I feel like I have become a better run blocker and I feel like this scheme fits my ability very well.”

Although he was happy to make the Pro Bowl, Tunsil disagreed with six of his teammates being alternates. That includes Stroud, defensive end Will Anderson Jr., cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., wide receiver Nico Collins, fullback Andrew Beck and defensive end Jonathan Greenard.

“I think all those guys should’ve went in, in my opinion,” Tunsil said. “Especially 7 (Stroud). But, you know, politics.”

One more victory and the Texans will qualify for the playoffs. Lose to the Colts and the Texans’ season ends.

“That’s the main goal is to make the playoffs,” Tunsil. “It’s so long for me since I was in the playoffs. Last time I’ve been in the playoffs was ‘19. Before that was’16, my rookie year. So, just to get in would mean a lot to me.”

On Aug. 31, 2019, Tunsil and wide receiver Kenny Stills along with a fourth-round draft pick were traded to the Texans in exchange for two first-round draft picks, a second-round selection, cornerback Johnson Bademosi and offensive tackle Julien Davenport.

He was voted his first Pro Bowl that year and, after the season, signed to a three-year, $66 million contract extension with $57.85 million guaranteed.

Now that he’s been named to the Pro Bowl again, the trade looks better and better for the Texans.

“Every time I get any accomplishment, it leans toward that,” Tunsil said. “Just prove them wrong.”

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com.