Shaq

Mason

Aaron Wilson reports the Texans are releasing Mason as a post-June 1 cut and freeing up $9.4 million in cap space this season, though they can’t use any of it until June 1. Mason started all 32 games he appeared in for the Texans over the last two seasons and earned a 62.3 PFF blocking grade. Far from the player he was during his days in New England, Mason will hunt for a stopgap starting role in free agency.

Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik told reporters earlier today that “the offensive line combination and whether to start Shaq Mason or Juice Scruggs” (ankle) in the right guard spot will be debated all week. The Texans’ offensive line continues to be an issue but the Texans evidently expect to have both players available this week, which is a plus.

Both offensive offensive guard Juice Scruggs and wide receiver John Metchie will play after coming into the weekend listed as questionable. Scruggs should slot into the starting lineup for the absent Mason while Metchie should return to a starting role alongside Nico Collins on the perimeter. The Texans look to complete the rare home dog upset in the Wildcard Round against the visiting Chargers.

The interior of the offensive line became an issue against the Chiefs in Week 16 as the Texans struggled to sustain drives. Running back Joe Mixon averaged 4.1 yards per carry as well, which is right at the seasonal average allowed by the Chiefs. That’s bad news for a team fighting for playoff seeding with a matchup against the Ravens in Week 17, who are one of the only teams in the league to allow fewer yards per carry than the Chiefs in 2024.

Kendrick Green took over at right guard for the Texans and looks likely to start against the Ravens on Christmas. Reading between the lines, it’s possible Mason could return for the Texans in the playoffs. Aaron Wilson reports that he has a sprained MCL and will miss “2-4 weeks.” Whether that is good for them or not is another story, as Mason has been a disappointment this year with a 57.7 PFF run block grade.

According to the sideline reporter, Mason had his knee braced and headed back to the locker room. Kendrick Green took over at right guard for the Texans. Mason seems unlikely to return based on this reporting.

The deal also includes $22 million in guaranteed money. Houston acquired Mason from the Bucs in March for a Day Three pick swap. Tampa Bay needed cap space and Mason had played under Texans GM Nick Caserio while the two were in New England, so the deal made sense for both sides. Mason started all 17 games for the Bucs in 2022. Soon to be 30 years old, Mason’s Pro Football Focus grades took a hit last year, but he was an elite starter as recently as 2021. He will help keep rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud upright in 2023.

Like most Texans acquisitions, Mason is a former Patriots with ties to Houston general manager Nick Caserio. Mason, entering his age-30 season, was graded by Pro Football Focus as 2022’s 26th-best pass-blocking guard and 33rd-best run-blocking guard. The move was mainly a cap maneuver for the Bucs, who needed to clear another $1.5 million in space in order to get compliant with the salary cap. Moving on from Mason will leave them with a few million dollars to spend.

Acquired from the Patriots last March, Mason had another solid year along the interior, though his Pro Football Focus marks unsurprisingly fell in his first year away from the Pats. The Bucs are hard up against the cap, and Mason’s release would free up $5.27 million. The 29-year-old should also draw some Day 3 pick trade interest.

The restructure will give the Bucs more operating room under the cap for 2022 while pushing some money into 2023. Tampa had just $1.4 million in cap space coming into today according to Over The Cap, so this will give them some room to maneuver in season. Adam Schefter has reported the amount saved for 2022 at $6 million.