Kendrick Green's arrival in Houston lasted four games before the guard tore his meniscus in Week 4, adding to the Texans' injury woes along the offensive line to begin the 2023 campaign.
Now fully recovered from the knee injury, Green said he's in "the best shape I’ve been in in my whole life" heading into a training camp where he's expected to compete for a starting job.
“I think it’s going to be fun. I’m excited,” Green recently said of vying for a starting role, via Aaron Wilson of KPRC. “I know a lot of other guys are excited. So we’re going to get after it and see how it comes out.”
The Texans acquired Green via trade just ahead of the 2023 season in exchange for a 2025 sixth-round pick. It was a necessary countermeasure by Houston after Kenyon Green, a 2022 first-round pick, suffered a season-ending shoulder injury during training camp.
Kendrick Green appeared in all four games and logged three starts before suffering the injury on Oct. 1. The former third-round pick didn't allow a sack in 208 total snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.
The two Greens are now expected to compete for the starting left guard job this summer.
Houston managed to weather a storm of injuries throughout its offensive line in 2023. Laremy Tunsil (three games missed), right tackle Tytus Howard (10 games) and rookie center Juice Scruggs (10 games) all missed significant time while the Texans dealt with an injury-laden left guard spot. Only Shaq Mason started all 17 games for the club last season.
The Texans O-line did well considering the situation. C.J. Stroud turned in an Offensive Rookie of the Year-winning season and led the Texans to an AFC South title behind a unit that returns all offensive lineman healthy in 2024.
“We’ve got a great damn room," Kendrick Green said. "I think we’ve got one of the best rooms in the league, and we’re deep. So, it ain’t too many people who got it like that.”
Now Green's focus will be earning a starting job during what portends to be a competitive summer in Houston.