Aireontae

Ersery

The Texans will be without both starting tackles for a Saturday showdown against the Chargers, a game with significant playoff implications for both teams. The game profiles as a tight defensive battle, although both teams carry enough firepower on offense to drive the scoring up if forced into a more aggressive stance.

He’ll presumably miss the rest of the regular season at the very least. Ersery finishes the campaign with a 58.7 PFF grade — decent, but nothing outstanding — and a surprisingly low 52.9 PFF run block grade as a rookie second-round starter on C.J. Stroud’s blind side. Blake Fisher replaced Ersery on Sunday when he left the game, but the Texans have enough versatility that it wouldn’t be a surprise if they lined up someone else there against the Chargers in Week 17.

He left late in the fourth quarter and was replaced by Blake Fisher. Ersery has had a rough rookie year as Houston’s everydown left tackle, but given the depth on hand here, it would be a loss if he missed multiple weeks. Trent Brown also left the game at the two-minute warning, though he wasn’t given a designation before the end of the game. His status will be worth monitoring.

Per Schefter, Aireontae Ersery “looks ready” to start the season as Houston’s left tackle. That makes Robinson expendable, though Houston could simply keep Robinson as a highly-paid swing tackle. Robinson missed some time in training camp and did not play in the preseason this year.

The Texans gave up picks No. 58 and 99 to move up 10 spots. Understandably, they have placed a premium on upgrading their dreadful offensive line. Ersery (6’6/331) was a three-star recruit who barely saw the field his first two collegiate campaigns before rattling off 38 starts and 800+ snaps each year from 2022-2024. Ersery allowed just 12 pressures, one hit and one sack while earning a 77.3 PFF pass block grade en route to being named Big 10 Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2024. He ran a brisk 5.01s 40-yard dash and tested as a 93rd percentile athlete at the Combine, though his 33 1/8th” arms are on the short side. He held up well against PSU Edge Abdul Carter in pass protection, but Carter’s speed and instincts gave Ersery difficulty in the run game. His hulking frame is a major asset despite some movement limitations and a tendency to bend at the waist. When he’s balanced and not lunging, Ersery roots himself to the ground against power rushers while still having deft enough footwork to run speed rushers out of the play. Ersery has a Christian Darrisaw-lite profile to his game. He will undoubtedly see the field as a rookie in Houston.

Rapoport suggests that Ersery could make his way into the late first round, connecting him with the tackle-needy Chiefs. Ersery performed more consistently as a run-blocker than as a blindside pass protector over the last two seasons, but notably allowed just a 3.0 percent quarterback pressure rate last year, the 10th-lowest among Power Five left tackles with at least 400 pass-protection snaps.

The Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year, who is regarded as a potential late first-round pick, started all 12 games he played at left tackle for Minnesota in 2024. According to PFF, Ersery allowed just one sack last season. The Texans, who currently hold the 25th overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, dealt Pro Bowl tackle Laremy Tunsil to the Commanders in March and are in the market for offensive line help at essentially every position.

Ersery (6'5/273) chooses Minnesota over Kansas, Kansas State, and others despite living in Kansas City. The three-star tackle should be a depth option for Minnesota to start his career, but who knows if the Minnesota weight and conditioning program can turn him into a future starter. Ersery currently sits on the 247Sports board as the No. 74 offensive tackle in the class.