DECEMBER 27: Ersery is inactive for Saturday’s game, the Texans announced. Fisher is expected to start at left tackle, per Wilson.
DECEMBER 26: Winners of seven straight, the Texans may go without both starting offensive tackles in a pivotal meeting with the Chargers in Week 17. Left tackle Aireontae Ersery underwent surgery on a broken thumb on Tuesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 reports. He’s questionable as a result. The Texans have already ruled out starting right tackle Trent Brown, who’s dealing with knee and ankle injuries.
A former Minnesota Golden Gopher, Ersery earned Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year honors in 2024. The Texans spent a second-round pick on Ersery in last spring’s draft, and he has emerged as a full-time starter as a rookie.
The 6-foot-6, 330-pounder leads Texans offensive linemen with a 98.4% snap share. Pro Football Focus ranks Ersery’s play 62nd among 82 qualifying tackles. PFF has given him a higher grade as a pass blocker (63.3) than in the running game (52.9).
Ersery will attempt to play while wearing a protective club on Saturday. If he misses the game, the Texans will turn to Blake Fisher to protect quarterback C.J. Stroud‘s blindside. Fisher has already made nine starts this year. The versatile Tytus Howard is expected to shift from left guard to fill in for Brown, while Jarrett Patterson is in line to take over Howard’s spot.
The Texans’ O-line shakeup comes at an inopportune time against the 11-4 Chargers, who boast the NFL’s fourth-ranked defense and have amassed the league’s eighth-most sacks. The Chargers are in a similar position, though, as they’ll face an elite Texans defense without either of their top tackles. They’ve gone all year without left tackle Rashawn Slater after he tore his patellar tendon in August. Joe Alt moved from the right side to the left to replace Slater, but he suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 9.
The Chargers have overcome their problems up front to clinch a playoff spot. The Texans will punch their ticket to the postseason if they beat the Bolts or tie them on Saturday.