Fully healthy Kendrick Green, ‘feeling great,’ ready to compete for Texans starting job on one of ‘best’ lines in NFL

RICHMOND – Kendrick Green was off to an encouraging start with the Texans after being acquired in a trade from the Pittsburgh Steelers last year.

That was before the former third-round draft pick from Illinois tore his meniscus in his right knee after starting three of the first four games.

Now, Green has made a complete recovery heading into training camp after undergoing surgery last fall. He’s slated to compete for a starting job at left guard with former first-round draft pick Kenyon Green, who’s also fully recovered from a torn labrum in his shoulder and lined up with the first-team offense this offseason.

“I feel great, I’m ready to get after it,” Green told KPRC 2 during teammate Steven Sims Jr.’s youth football camp. “I’m excited, man. I feel great. I’m in the best shape I’ve been in in my whole life, so I’m ready to go.”

Green didn’t allow any sacks in 208 snaps last season, according to Pro Football Focus analytics.

The 6-foot-4, 315-pound native of Peoria, Illinois has started 18 of 19 career games in three NFL seasons.

“I think it’s going to be fun, I’m excited,” Green said. “I know a lot of other guys are excited. So, we’re going to get after it and see how it comes out.”

The Texans’ offensive line is headlined by Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil and returns Shaq Mason at right guard with Tytus Howard expected to step back in at right tackle after dealing with a knee injury last season that required surgery. Second-year lineman Juice Scruggs is the projected starting center.

The Texans’ offensive line and Tunsil haven’t been rated very highly, though, in various rankings. That hasn’t gone unnoticed by the line, including Tunsil and Howard on social media.

“We ain’t too worried about rankings from outside sources,” Green said. “We ain’t too worried about it, we know what we’ve got in our room. We’ve got a great damn room. I think we’ve got one of the best rooms in the league, and we’re deep. So, it ain’t too many teams who got it like that. We’re going to do it.”

And the Texans have one of the most talented rosters in the league.

They’re a defending AFC South champion that finished 11-8 overall last season in coach DeMeco Ryans’ first season.

The team returns NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year quarterback C.J. Stroud and NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year defensive end Will Anderson Jr. and added wide receiver Stefon Diggs and defensive end Danielle Hunter this offseason.

“I think we feel as a team, as an organization, everybody is happy with what we did, but we still know we could have done better and we will do better,” Green said. “The sky is the limit. We’ve got a guy like C.J. who can really carry us as a team and DeMeco is a great leader. The guys rally behind his high energy. There’s never a dull moment. It keeps us locked in and focused.”

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