Houston Texans open 2025 training camp with a new O-line for C.J. Stroud. After 52 sacks last year, can Cam Robinson and Trent Brown keep the star QB safe?
StatPro NFL Beat Reporter
The wait is over. Rookies and veterans reported to Houston Texans training camp today, and the air is thick with something more than just July humidity: expectation. Pegged as AFC South favorites and a legitimate playoff contender, the Texans are no longer the scrappy underdog. But as camp opens, the biggest story isn't just who is here, but how an entirely revamped offense will come together to protect the team's most precious asset, C.J. Stroud.
The number that justifies it all: C.J. Stroud was sacked 52 times last season.
You can't talk about the 2025 Texans without starting in the trenches. After a season where C.J. Stroud was hit far too often, the front office cleaned house, trading away Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil and guards Shaq Mason and Kenyon Green. In their place is a completely new-look unit featuring tackles Cam Robinson and Trent Brown, along with guards Laken Tomlinson and Ed Ingram. The mission is simple: keep Stroud upright. The performance of this group will be the single most-watched storyline of camp. If they gel, the offense could be unstoppable.
Directing the new-look offense is coordinator Nick Caley, who takes over for Bobby Slowik. Caley's system is expected to empower Stroud, giving him more control and authority at the line of scrimmage. He'll have plenty of new weapons to work with, including proven veterans in running back Nick Chubb and wide receiver Christian Kirk. In a great piece of news to start camp, third-round rookie receiver Jaylin Noel, who posted nearly 1,200 yards in his final year at Iowa State, has been cleared for full participation after a hamstring scare in minicamp. He'll compete for targets immediately, adding even more depth for Stroud.
While the offense underwent a facelift, the defense focused on key additions. The most exciting is fiery safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who brings a veteran presence and swagger to the secondary. However, some questions remain. The health of linebacker Christian Harris is a situation to monitor. While Coach DeMeco Ryans expressed confidence Harris would be ready for camp after a spring spent rehabbing, his full participation will be a key indicator of the defense's readiness. A healthy Harris is crucial for a unit looking to match the offense's high ceiling.
The pieces are in place, and the expectations have been set. As training camp begins, the Texans are no longer building; they are contending. The coming weeks will be about chemistry—seeing if the new offensive line can become a cohesive wall and how quickly the new weapons integrate into Nick Caley's system. The journey to a high playoff seed starts now, on the practice fields in Houston. The pads will be coming on soon, and that's when we'll get our first real glimpse of whether this ambitious overhaul will pay off.
