Antoine

Caldwell

Mike Brisiel’s departure to Oakland doesn’t ensure that Caldwell will enter the starting lineup, but he’s easily the front-runner for the job. Although Arian Foster’s offensive line will have two new starters, Caldwell has gained plenty of experience as an injury fill-in over the past two seasons.

A third-round pick in 2009, Caldwell has 13 career starts, and competed with Brisiel for the starting right guard job in each of the last two training camps. A high-ankle sprain limited Caldwell to just five games in 2011.

The Texans aren’t placing Brisiel on injured reserve, instead hoping he can recover as quickly as FS Danieal Manning did from the same injury. Manning only missed three weeks. Brisiel won’t be rushed back, but the “hope” is that he’ll return at some point during the playoffs. The Texans will turn to Antoine Caldwell, who started 10 games during the 2009 and 2010 seasons.

It may kill Brooks’ chances of winning the starting right guard job, no matter what happens in training camp. Brooks goes in excess of 340 pounds, so his weight constantly needs to be in control, especially for zone blocking. Antoine Caldwell is the favorite to open the season starting next to C Chris Myers.

It would appear Caldwell has avoided a high sprain. Caldwell was already rotating snaps with fourth-round rookie Ben Jones before going down, but should be active and starting for Week 5.

It has the look of a serious injury as Caldwell got rolled up on and then had to be gingerly helped off. However, it’s not a crippling blow to the Texans’ dominant offensive line. Fourth-round rookie Ben Jones was rotating in anyway.

It’s bad news for a Texans’ rushing attack that struggled in the first half, but Houston has a readymade fill-in in rookie Ben Jones. Off to a rough start this season, Caldwell should be considered week-to-week.

Caldwell went down on Sunday Night Football. Rotating with rookie Ben Jones, Caldwell has graded out poorly as both a pass and run blocker by Pro Football Focus. Houston’s right-side run blocking has been a big problem so far in 2012.

Caldwell, 27, started the first six games of the season at right guard for the Texans last season before being relegated to a reserve role. He has started 19 games over his career, and he has the ability to play all three interior positions. Caldwell would be solid veteran depth in Detroit.

It’s Hadnot’s first visit of free agency, and Caldwell’s fourth. Hadnot, 31, started three games for the Chargers in 2012, but he has started 96 career games in his nine-year career. Both players can play all along the interior.