Texans May Be Down Two Starters On Offense Against Bucs
September 10th, 2025
Facing a backup Monday night in Houston?
The Bucs were banged up on offense before the season began. After just one game, so are the Texans.
“This Joe” normally tries to put the previous weekend’s game to bed by Wednesday morning, certainly no later than Wednesday noon. But this week is a Monday night game so Joe won’t have an avalanche of fresh Bucs quotes until tomorrow morning.
That doesn’t mean Joe won’t have fresh news.
The Bucs head to Houston to face the Texans on Monday Night Football. And it seems the Texans will be down at least one starter and maybe two. Houston tight end Cade Stove has a hairline fracture of his foot, per good guy and long-time Texans beat guy Aaron Wilson. So Stover will be out,
At center, the Texans may also be without starter Jake Andrews. He has a high ankle sprain and Houston coach Demeco Ryans refused to say he was out against the Bucs, terming Andrews’ injury as “day-to-day.”
Joe likes the thought of a backup center trying to tangle with Vita Vea.
September 10th, 2025 at 12:08 am
omg! lol! love the headline and this picture, so funny! Hoping Vita and company can limit Nick Chubb.
September 10th, 2025 at 12:19 am
Joe is making me laugh, “Joe likes the thought of a backup center trying to tangle with Vita Vea.” funny! a whole game of tangling with Vita Vea–is enough to make anyone have a high ankle sprain. Whatever happened to Vita’s foot issue? Did we ever find out what it was? which foot? anyway we sound better off than Texans. Good!
September 10th, 2025 at 12:24 am
Hopefully this doesn’t embolden the Genius to revert to his 2023 Texans gameplan in which then rookie CJ Stroud threw for over 500 yards including the end of game winning TD drive in 45 seconds.
Somehow we fear seeing the soft off coverages of 2023-24. We started and ended the Falcons game that way, why not just stick with it. If you keep failing harder, it’s bound to push through to the other side.
September 10th, 2025 at 12:35 am
Hopefully it is a backup C that can’t be protected by stout guards. Looked like Stroud was under heat a ton vs the Rams. Bucs got next to nothing up the middle on ATL. Is Neuzil that good or Lindstrom and what’s his nuts are?
Anyway, I bet the wrong horse Sunday. Money went on Kancey sack instead of Reddick. I’ll be back on Kancey this week. Doubling the bet until he gets one. Make it fast Calijah!
September 10th, 2025 at 12:36 am
I think Aqualung has a point in that while Bowles has become less conservative on offense, actually going for it on 4th and one at his own 36, etc, is still making the same mistakes with soft coverages. Dean lining up 10 yards off of the ball when 7 yards gets a first down etc. In a way, I think Chase M missing the extra point may have even helped the Bucs as if the ATL had to go for the end zone instead of trusting Koo to tie it and send it to OT, they could have gone for the end zone one more time and could have succeeded. Todd Wright made a good point in his recent podcast, Bowles can get the Bucs to the playoffs, but can he win in the playoffs? He is 1 dash 3 in that regard and 1-2 at home. Todd barely won in the ATL, where Coach Rah could get fired if they do not make the playoffs. I like the win, but an 8 or 9 win team can beat a bad opponent on the road. Todd needs to do better.
September 10th, 2025 at 1:22 am
Hey Joe – love your work but I think you are confusing Jake Matthews with Jake Andrews. Matthews is still in Atlanta and Andrews is the Texans starting center. Just wanted to clear that up for you.
Go Bucs.
September 10th, 2025 at 1:27 am
Was this written by AI? There is no Jake Matthews listed on the Texans roster. Jake Matthews, who went to Texas A&M, is on the Falcons.
September 10th, 2025 at 1:40 am
Jake Andrews (Not Matthews) attended Troy University.
*This made sense before the article was edited.
September 10th, 2025 at 2:12 am
Unrelated, but I know they’ll both read this – Jenna and Ronde. It’s time to start giving Joe the flowers. Ronde you do it during preseason games, and Jenna you occasionally do it in your articles, but both of you should listen to this: Joe deserves the spot in the broadcasting ROH right next to Gene. He’s our legend with a keyboard, like Gene was a legend with a radio mic. It’s time for someone to start speaking up about this.
September 10th, 2025 at 2:34 am
As one of many who criticize Bowels for playing his corners ten yards off the receivers, that was not the case during the end of the Falcons game. The corners were playing tight, up in their respective receiver’s face. And I was impressed. Watch the tape.
If you’re gonna get on Bowles as a HC/DC, fine. I do it often. To be fair, however, you also must give credit where credit is due.
September 10th, 2025 at 2:51 am
Ah Joe! Maybe it’s time to have a sit down with your interns 🙂
If you need a resource, you could ask Todd Bowles and Jason Licht for advice on implementing standards and accountability at JBF HQ.
Seriously, it been years now and the problems there seem to be getting worse. Are we entering the lost decade of JBF? Sure not hope not.
September 10th, 2025 at 3:25 am
I don’t think there is a ton of cause for celebration there. As far as I know we will still be playing that same makeshift Oline. I suppose they weren’t all that bad Sunday, but geez. Scary stuff.
September 10th, 2025 at 3:30 am
Way off topic, but I’m sure most of you saw that video of a Hellfire missile deflecting off a UFO. It appeared to be a glancing blow, but WOW!
September 10th, 2025 at 4:52 am
Getting the extra day to rest, heal should help some of our guys that were hurt last week. Will be interested in injury report today.
September 10th, 2025 at 5:41 am
the texans are not that good, cj is very inconsistent, this defense should take care of business, reddick will get more sacks monday night
September 10th, 2025 at 6:42 am
“”Hopefully this doesn’t embolden the Genius to revert to his 2023 Texans gameplan in which then rookie CJ Stroud threw for over 500 yards including the end of game winning TD drive in 45 seconds””
I couldn’t sleep for 2 nights after witnessing that monstrosity. And it almost happened again against ATL. If Winfield doesn’t make that pass breakup with 16 seconds left we lose in similar fashion.
September 10th, 2025 at 6:55 am
Christian Kirk may also still be injured (hammy).
September 10th, 2025 at 7:04 am
The Bucs started slowly last week. There were a few really good running plays. There were a few really good pass plays. There were a few 3 and out.
The Defense at times looked dominant. There were times the Defense looked like they were out of position. Dennis had a bad game.
The missed 44 yard FG by helmet slammer was an unexpected gift. But the Bucs K also gave up 4 points.
So it all leveled out. A win and one week closer to having Wirfs and Godwin back, and a week of solid work for those players who were rusty or just not ready.
The real test is this week. Can Bowles get them ready for a second straight road game. Houston’s QB is much more agile than Penix.
September 10th, 2025 at 7:38 am
We’re playing Houston for the second time in three years, but we haven’t played Cleveland since Brady’s last season? When it finally happens, will be EPIC! (Hopefully will be IN Cleveland)
September 10th, 2025 at 7:47 am
That and CJ Stroud to you CJ Stroud fan boys out there – hes been trash for the past year. This is a winnable game for Tampa and in fact, they SHOULD win
September 10th, 2025 at 8:03 am
Beej, pretty sure we play the Browns division next year.
Considering what we think the Browns record will be this year, it will be an epic between the new high draft pick rookie vs. the one that got away.
Let’s do this in Ray Jay first Thursday of the 2026 season (see what I did there)!
September 10th, 2025 at 9:08 am
Until we see more of the defense we saw in the second and third quarters consistently, Todd can lose to anyone. There is at least hope after Fowlclowns opening 3 play atrocity that the D can tighten it up.
Start that way for goodness sake.
September 10th, 2025 at 9:33 am
This would be a great game to put a beating on CJ Stroud and his OL.
September 10th, 2025 at 9:41 am
As long as Grizzard gets it through his head to NOT open the game by run-up-the-middle, I’ll consider him slowly getting the hang of things Offensive. Not worried about McLaughlin. Hey Bake, you need to practice slides while you’re at it. Beware of the refs, too.
September 10th, 2025 at 10:11 am
Bucs are 2 and 0 baby! Oops posted this too soon.
September 10th, 2025 at 12:04 pm
Vea was a beast in game 1. I don’t even mind his penalty.
I’d love to see either Gholston’s, “Coming out party for Logan Hall” or ” The NFL’s next star: Kancey” show up for this game. Both were invisible.
Yaya looked good. Let’s see him play .5 step faster.
September 10th, 2025 at 1:24 pm
[Photo was taken by Joe’s photographer immediately after the game. — Joe]
September 10th, 2025 at 1:47 pm
The Texans had a terrible offensive line last year and overhauled it this offseason, and on paper it wasn’t an upgrade, more of the classic shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic routine. Basically they were hoping by just trying something new, anything new, they’d get better results. I didn’t watch their week 1 tape vs the Rams to see if it worked, but I do know the Texans didn’t score many points, so I doubt Stroud had good protection. In any case, considering all their moves on the line, their depth is considered a big issue, so if they’re missing two starters, that would be big.
Then again, it’s MNF, and we all know how these games go with Baker and Bowles. Stroud will probably come out and put up 400 yards and 4 TDs, while Tampa will be blown out all game, but get some garbage time scores to make the box score look good. Hope I’m wrong, would love to see an all-around solid effort, but on my season outlook, this, and all the other prime time games, are all L’s until B&B prove they can win under the lights.
September 10th, 2025 at 8:31 pm
Kudos to your photographer Joe. Tell your photographer I say thank you. It’s an excellent photo