Texans’ Tytus Howard happy to be back at right tackle and his renewed health ‘I know I’m gonna have a good year’

HOUSTON – Tytus Howard can smile now at the memory of his big truck submerged in the floodwater that engulfed Houston during the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl.

The Texans’ veteran offensive lineman had plenty of help from good Samaritans who pitched in to help lift out his truck after floated sideways. He was safe, and appreciative of the generosity. Although his truck was ultimately totaled, Howard emerged unscathed.

And, now, Howard can enjoy being back fully healthy after knee surgery last season and being back at his preferred, natural right tackle position.

“Man, it was crazy, something I didn’t expect to happen,” Howard told KPRC 2. “I had a lot of good people from the community around me, guys swimming in the water to help me. So, that lets you know what type of people are in the city. Everybody helps each other and stuff like that.

“It was a crazy situation. My truck totaled. That’s tough, but that’s material things. They can be replaced. As long as I was good and safe, that’s all that matters.”

It’s an altogether different situation for Howard at training camp compared to last season’s hard luck. The former first-round draft pick from Alabama State endured a difficult season last year.

After signing a three-year, $56 million contract extension, he broke his hand in several places and underwent surgery and was placed on injured reserve. When he returned in October, he aggravated a left knee injury that had been bothering him for years and was placed on injured reserve again in November as his season ended after seven games played.

Howard was cleared medically a couple of weeks ago and made it back for the first practice of camp where he’s been a full participant. He was sidelined for organized team activities and a full-team minicamp this offseason.

“The injury was tough because it’s something. I’m being honest, I’ve been playing with for the past couple of years, but it got worse every year,” Howard said. “This unexpectedly happened in practice and during the season last year. I mean, I tried to play on it, but, fortunately, the team put me first and I ended up having surgery in November.

“It was a long recovery, man, because it was the same knee I hurt my rookie year. Emotionally, it was hard. I have my family, I have my coaches, I had my teammates that was behind me the whole time. Now, I feel good. I’m as healthy as I’ve been since I’ve been here. I’m excited to be able to play at my full potential, showcase my skills. So, I’m happy I’m finally in a good place. I’m back. I’m healthy. I’m good. I’m ready to help this team win some games. I had to be back before the first day. I missed all the OTAs you know, everybody was like, ‘Oh man, you still hurt, man,’ but it was something I couldn’t help.”

Howard lined up at left guard last season when the Texans’ interior line needed salvaging. It’s not his preferred position, but he did what the team needed. Now that former first-round draft pick Kenyon Green is healthy and in good shape and the frontrunner to be the starting left guard, Howard is back where he feels he has always belonged.

“I play tackle, I’ve been playing tackle since I moved to offensive line back in 2016,” said Howard, a former all-rookie selection who has started 61 career games. “So, that’s what I do. That’s what I do best. That’ where I showcase my skill, so I can help the team at the most. They allowed me to go back to right tackle, and I know I’m gonna have a good year and help this team win a lot of games.”

The Texans restructured Howard’s $56 million contract this offseason, creating $10.3 million in salary cap space, per a league source.

Howard was originally due a $14 million base salary, in 2024 and the Texans converted $12.875 million of that figure into a fully guaranteed signing bonus. His new base salary is now the minimum $1.125 million, and his salary cap figure is down from $18.705 million to $8.405 million. The base salary is fully guaranteed for skill, injury and salary cap.

The Texans added voidable years in 2027 and 2028 for Howard of $30 million each year.

He’s happy to be a vital part of the defending AFC South champions who have emerged as a trendy Super Bowl contender headlined by quarterback C.J. Stroud and wide receivers Stefon Diggs, Nico Collins and Tank Dell. Howard loves the depth behind them with Noah Brown and John Metchie III.

“You see it every day,” Howard said. “Everybody’s talking about, ‘You got Stephon, Nico and Tank,’ but we’ve got Metchie, Noah Brown. Those guys can be starters on any other team. Those guys are balling every day, making plays. We’ve got a lot of potential on this team.

“You come out here and you work. We have good camaraderie. We’re not waiting until late in the season to show what we can do. We can be one of the best offenses in the league.”

And Howard gets to test his footwork, athleticism and willpower every day against Pro Bowl bookend pass rushers Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter. Honing his technique against those type of competitors only makes him better and an offensive line that includes Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil, Green, center Juice Scruggs and right guard Shaq Mason.

“The energy is great, man, a lot of good guys in this room, a lot of guys who hold each other accountable,” Howard said. “It’s a lot of competition. Every day, every rep, you’re going against a guy who’s going to make you better. Speaking for myself, I haven’t played tackle football in a year. Getting back out there, I feel good. I’ve had a good first couple of days.

“I’ve got guys like Will and Danielle that bring it every play, so I’ve got to bring my best every day. And we’re going to make each other better. These are good guys to compete against, some of the best athletes in the league. So, it’s only going to make me better.”

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