complete 180 – Right guard Ed Ingram says Houston’s offensive line has “gelled together quite well” under position coach Cole Popovich, pointing to new additions—including Wyatt Teller, Braden Smith, Keylan Rutledge, Evan Brown, and Febechi Nwaiwu—and his three-year extensio
The Houston Texans’ offensive line didn’t have much to celebrate in 2025—at least not by the usual standards of a unit expected to set the tone every Sunday. But right guard Ed Ingram is betting the next chapter looks completely different.
Ingram. acquired in a trade with the Vikings. earned a three-year extension this offseason after doing enough good work to stay in the franchise’s plans for the long haul. Now he’s preparing to be a holdover on a line that’s changed around him. starting with likely starters added at left guard and right tackle: Wyatt Teller and Braden Smith.
Houston also used a first-round pick to draft center Keylan Rutledge, then kept stacking depth by signing guard Evan Brown and drafting Febechi Nwaiwu in the fourth round.
During the offseason program, Ingram says the group came together quickly—both in the meeting room and in how they see their mission. Speaking via Aaron Wilson of KPRC, Ingram said, “The offensive line, we have gelled together quite well.”
He pointed to Cole Popovich’s role in shaping the room. “I feel like Pop has got a good group of guys in a room together,” Ingram continued. “We are all like-minded and all have one common goal, which is just showing each and everybody that the line here, that it’s changed.”
For Ingram, the goal isn’t just better film. It’s what that improvement is supposed to enable on game day. “We’re doing a complete 180, and we’re a different line, we’re a different unit,” he said. “And that the team can rely on us to run behind us, block for C.J. and we’re going to have a great year.”.
The Texans’ optimism has been steady across the offense this offseason, and the line will get its most honest test when September finally arrives. If Ingram’s belief holds, Houston won’t just be talking about improvement—it will be proving it, snap by snap, behind a redesigned front.
Houston Texans Ed Ingram offensive line Cole Popovich Wyatt Teller Braden Smith Keylan Rutledge Evan Brown Febechi Nwaiwu C.J.
Texans O-line doing a “complete 180” like that’s easy lol.
I swear every offseason it’s the same thing, “gelled together” and “different unit.” Like okay but can they actually block when it counts? Also C.J. better be protected for once.
Holdover? Doesn’t that mean he’s like the coach’s favorite? I didn’t realize they traded him to the Vikings then got him back or something, so I’m confused on the whole timeline. If they drafted that Rutledge guy and signed Brown too, that’s a lot of moving parts… but maybe Popovich fixes it.
“Complete 180” sounds like marketing speak. Like they just added a bunch of names (Teller, Smith, Brown, etc) and now suddenly they’re good? I’ll believe it when September comes and we see actual sacks allowed. Also why do they keep drafting like that, can’t they just have one solid line already?