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Houston enters its postseason road game in New England dealing with fresh setbacks on offense, after a late decision left starting right tackle Trent Brown inactive. The change complicates the Texans’ plans to protect quarterback CJ Stroud against a hungry Patriots front.
Trent Brown ruled out vs. Patriots after pregame attempt
Trent Brown tried to dress for the game but failed to clear a lingering ankle issue. The team listed him inactive shortly before kickoff.
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With Brown unavailable, the Texans are expected to turn to Blake Fisher at right tackle. The swap forces Houston to adjust its blocking calls and personnel on short notice.
Who is sidelined for Houston today
Houston named several players inactive for the playoff matchup. The list includes offensive and defensive contributors.
- Nico Collins — wide receiver, already ruled out.
- Trent Brown — starting right tackle, inactive due to ankle.
- Graham Mertz — quarterback, inactive.
- Jawhar Jordan — running back, inactive.
- Alijah Huzzie — cornerback, inactive.
- Justin Watson — wide receiver, inactive.
The absences remove two starters from Houston’s offense and trim depth across multiple positions.
How Brown’s health has trended and what it means
Brown has battled durability concerns over the past two seasons. He has appeared in only ten regular-season games across that span.
He suffered a torn patellar tendon in the 2024-25 season and managed just three appearances that year. The injury carried into the following campaign, limiting him to seven games this season.
That inconsistent availability has forced Houston to rotate linemen and evaluate depth options throughout the year.
Protection issues for CJ Stroud and offensive adjustments
Since drafting CJ Stroud in 2023, the Texans have worked to shore up their offensive line. Those efforts have been uneven at times.
Against New England’s defensive front, the Texans must find ways to keep pressure off their rookie franchise quarterback. Expect quicker release decisions and extra chip blocks near the line of scrimmage.
Coaches may also tweak protection schemes and increase max-protect sets to give Stroud cleaner pockets.
Game context: stakes, time and location
The matchup kicks off at 3 p.m. EST in New England. A win would send Houston to its first-ever Conference Championship game.
With key offensive starters out, the Texans’ defense may play a larger role in deciding the outcome.
