Strategic Adjustments After Injuries for the Houston Texans

When the Houston Texans lost two franchise cornerstones—star quarterback C.J. Stroud (shoulder sprain) and Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil (knee injury)—in a three-week span, the team faced a pivotal choice: fold under adversity or adapt. Instead of letting injuries derail their AFC South title hunt, the Texans’ coaching staff and front office implemented a series of targeted strategic adjustments—reworking offensive schemes, shuffling defensive roles, and optimizing special teams—to keep the team competitive. Strategic Adjustments After Injuries for the Houston Texans breaks down these critical shifts, from simplifying the passing game for a backup QB to restructuring the offensive line, and how these changes not only preserved the Texans’ playoff hopes but also revealed hidden depth in their roster. For a team with Super Bowl aspirations, these adjustments weren’t just short-term fixes—they were a test of their ability to thrive under pressure.

Strategic Adjustments After Injuries for the Houston Texans begins with the offense’s most urgent shift: tailoring the playbook to backup quarterback Case Keenum’s strengths while compensating for Tunsil’s absence. Offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik immediately trimmed 35% of the team’s pre-injury plays, eliminating complex read-option concepts and deep downfield throws that relied on Stroud’s arm strength and mobility. Instead, the Texans leaned into Keenum’s expertise as a game-manager: quick, high-percentage passes (slants, outs, and screen plays) that let him get the ball out within 2.3 seconds of the snap, reducing the need for a makeshift offensive line to hold blocks for long. To replace Tunsil at left tackle, the Texans shifted backup Tytus Howard—normally a right tackle—to the blindside and signed veteran free agent Andre Dillard to fill Howard’s old spot. The line also adopted a “zone-blocking heavy” approach, prioritizing lateral movement over power to create cleaner running lanes for Dameon Pierce and Devin Singletary. “We didn’t ask our backups to be stars—we asked them to execute a simplified plan,” Slowik said. The results spoke for themselves: in Keenum’s first two starts, the Texans averaged 315 total yards per game and won both contests, keeping their division lead intact.

A critical defensive adjustment in Strategic Adjustments After Injuries for the Houston Texans was the decision to shift to a “nickel package” as the base defense, a move prompted by the loss of reserve safety Jalen Pitre (hamstring) and the need to support the adjusted offense. With Pitre sidelined, defensive coordinator Matt Burke moved cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. into a hybrid “slot safety” role—letting him use his speed to cover slot receivers and his physicality to support run defense. The Texans also increased their blitz rate from 28% to 41%, leveraging edge rushers Jonathan Greenard and Will Anderson Jr. to pressure opposing quarterbacks and offset any vulnerabilities in the secondary. This shift paid dividends: in the four games after the adjustment, the Texans recorded 12 sacks (up from 5 in the previous four games) and forced 7 turnovers, including a game-sealing interception by Stingley in a win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. “We turned a personnel loss into a strategic strength,” Burke explained. “By blitzing more, we kept offenses off balance, and Stingley’s versatility let us cover more ground without sacrificing physicality.” The defense also focused on shortening drives, forcing opponents to punt on 62% of their possessions—up from 51fore the injuries—giving the adjusted offense more opportunities to score.

Strategic Adjustments After Injuries for the Houston Texans also highlights how the team optimized its special teams unit to reduce pressure on the offense and defense. With the passing game limited and the offensive line reconfigured, special teams coordinator Frank Ross made two key changes: he shifted wide receiver Nico Collins to punt return duty (a role he’d never played in the NFL) to leverage his 4.4-second 40-yard dash speed, and he adjusted the field goal block unit to use a “delay stunt” that exploited gaps created by opposing lines focused on protecting against long snaps. Collins immediately made an impact, averaging 11.2 yards per punt return—including a 45-yard return that set up a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans. The field goal block unit, meanwhile, blocked two kicks in three games, including a game-winning block against the Indianapolis Colts that preserved a 17-16 victory. For the Houston Texans, these special teams adjustments weren’t just add-ons—they became a critical source of field position and points. “When your offense is simplified, special teams has to step up,” Ross said. “We turned Nico’s speed into a weapon and found a way to create pressure on special teams that we couldn’t always generate on defense. It’s all about finding advantages where you can.”

Another pivotal adjustment in Strategic Adjustments After Injuries for the Houston Texans was the team’s focus on clock management and possession control, designed to limit the number of snaps their injury-depleted roster had to play. The Texans increased their rushing attempts from 27 per game to 38 per game, using Pierce and Singletary to control the tempo and keep the defense off the field. They also adopted a “no-huddle only in crisis” rule, slowing down their offensive pace to reduce mistakes and let the offensive line adjust to its new personnel. The result: the Texans’ average time of possession jumped from 28:15 to 33:42 per game, and they committed just 3 turnovers in the five games after the injuries—down from 8 in the previous five. “Possession is king when you’re playing with backups,” head coach DeMeco Ryans said. “Every time we have the ball, the other team can’t score, and it gives our defense a chance to rest. It’s a simple strategy, but it works.” For the Houston Texans, this focus on control also reduced the risk of further injuries: fewer snaps meant less wear and tear on key players, a critical consideration as they pushed toward the playoffs. The team’s medical staff even credited the slower pace with helping Stroud and Tunsil recover faster, as the reduced game-day stress let them focus on rehab without worrying about urgent on-field needs.

Looking ahead, Strategic Adjustments After Injuries for the Houston Texans outlines how the team plans to integrate these changes back into their full playbook as Stroud and Tunsil return. Slowik has designed a “phased reintegration” plan: over two weeks, the Texans will add 10-15% of their pre-injury plays each day, starting with play-action passes that complement their improved run game and gradually reintroducing deep throws as Stroud regains full strength. The offensive line will shift Howard back to right tackle once Tunsil returns, but they’ll keep the zone-blocking schemes that proved effective—creating a more balanced rushing attack. Defensively, Burke plans to keep the nickel package as a situational weapon, even with Pitre back, to maintain flexibility against pass-heavy offenses. “We don’t want to throw away what worked,” Ryans said. “The injuries forced us to try new things, and some of them made us better. We’re not going back to the exact same team we were before—we’re going to be a more versatile, adaptable version.” For the Houston Texans, this forward-thinking approach ensures that the adversity of injuries doesn’t go to waste. Instead of viewing the adjustments as temporary fixes, they’re treating them as permanent upgrades that will make the team stronger in the playoffs and beyond.

Strategic Adjustments After Injuries for the Houston Texans is ultimately a story of resilience and innovation. The Texans didn’t just survive key injuries—they used them as an opportunity to refine their identity, discover hidden talent, and build a more versatile team. By simplifying for Keenum, shifting defensive roles, optimizing special teams, and focusing on possession, they turned a potential crisis into a catalyst for growth. As Stroud and Tunsil return, the Texans aren’t just getting their stars back—they’re getting a team that’s learned to win in different ways, with a deeper roster and a more flexible game plan. For a franchise that’s spent years rebuilding, these adjustments are a sign that they’re no longer just contenders—they’re a team that can adapt, overcome, and compete with the best in the NFL. As the playoffs begin, the Texans’ post-injury adjustments won’t just be a footnote to their season—they’ll be the foundation of their pursuit of a Super Bowl.