Texans Likely to Move On From Former Second-Round Pick Juice Scruggs

The offensive lineman has struggled to find his footing in three seasons with the team.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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The Houston Texans are expected to part ways with 2023 second-round pick Juice Scruggs after three underwhelming seasons with the team. Scruggs, an offensive lineman out of Penn State, has dealt with injuries and inconsistent play, failing to establish himself as a reliable starter. According to ESPN's Aaron Schatz, Scruggs could be a prime candidate to find a new team this offseason as the Texans look to move on.

Why it matters

The Texans have built a promising young core through the draft in recent years, but Scruggs has not panned out as hoped. His potential departure would open up a roster spot and cap space, allowing the team to potentially find a better long-term solution on the offensive line to protect young quarterback C.J. Stroud.

The details

Scruggs was selected by the Texans in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft but missed the first 10 games of his rookie season with a hamstring injury. He has struggled to stay healthy and productive since then, ranking poorly in key offensive line metrics like pass block win rate and run block win rate. Last season, Scruggs had just one start and was a healthy scratch for one of the Texans' playoff games.

  • Scruggs was drafted by the Texans in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
  • He missed the first 10 games of the 2023 season with a hamstring injury.
  • In 2024, Scruggs started most of the season but ranked 32nd out of 33 qualifying players for pass block win rate as a center.
  • In 2025, Scruggs had only one start and mostly appeared on special teams, and was a healthy scratch for one of the Texans' playoff games.

The players

Juice Scruggs

A 2023 second-round draft pick of the Houston Texans who has struggled with injuries and inconsistent play in his three seasons with the team.

DeMeco Ryans

The head coach of the Houston Texans since 2023.

C.J. Stroud

The Texans' starting quarterback, a 2023 first-round draft pick.

Aaron Schatz

An analyst for ESPN who identified Scruggs as a candidate to be moved by the Texans this offseason.

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What they’re saying

“Scruggs was a second-round pick in the 2023 draft but missed the first 10 games of his rookie season with a hamstring injury. He has been in and out of the lineup ever since -- and has yet to reach his potential. Scruggs started most of the 2024 campaign but ranked 32nd out of 33 qualifying players for pass block win rate as a center (89.8%). His 64.3% run block win rate also was poor.”

— Aaron Schatz, ESPN Analyst (ESPN)

What’s next

The Texans will have to decide whether to keep Scruggs on his rookie contract for one more season or look to trade or release him this offseason.

The takeaway

Scruggs' struggles highlight the challenges the Texans have faced in building a consistent offensive line to protect their young franchise quarterback C.J. Stroud. His potential departure would open up an opportunity for the team to find a better long-term solution on the offensive line.