Despite a dominant defense and a historic win streak, Houston’s offensive strategy left Luke Lachey sidelined. Now in Green Bay, the tight end’s departure raises questions about utilized talent.
There are plenty of reasons to be hopeful about the direction of the Houston Texans football team. For starters, one could look to how the team finished the regular season.
The Texans ended the year with a nine-game winning streak. It clearly communicated that the team had something going for it and that more good things could come in the near future.
Among the multiple strong attributes for the team, the Texans' defense is certainly above reproach. Houston finished the year with an NFL-best defense that dominated most of its opposition during the year. Then the Texans re-signed and extended several of the key faces from a season ago.
The questions about the Texans come on the offensive end, including the overall effectiveness of that side of the football. That said, there are some questions about how individual players were utilized. One of those players is new Green Bay Packers tight end Luke Lachey.
Josh Burkhalter of Heavy discussed Lachey's move to Green Bay and what it means for the Houston Texans. Here's what Burkhalter had to say about Lachey's departure from the Texans.
"Lachey did not see the field for the Texans last season. That is notable, given the rash of injuries the Texans navigated, even though they did not rely on their tight ends. The Texans ran multi-TE looks at the NFL’s lowest rate, per Sharp Football Analysis.
They still boast a deep group of options. It includes Texans draft picks Brevin Jordan (2021), Cade Stover (2024), and Marlin Klein (2025), as well as former undrafted free agent Layne Pryor.
Dalton Schultz–who came over from the Texans’ in-state rival, the Dallas Cowboys, in 2023–still leads the group. Former Las Vegas Raiders and New Orleans Saints tight end Foster Moreau signed in free agency this offseason."
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) hugs Arizona Cardinals guard Hayden Conner (58) following a game at NRG Stadium. Thomas Shea-Imagn ImagesJust because a player did or did not contribute significantly to a team does not mean that the signing or the player was a failure. There are countless factors that could determine a player's fit with a team.
The injury of C.J. Stroud at quarterback made things difficult for the Houston offense to get its footing in 2025. Add in the struggles of the offensive line to keep Stroud upright and conditions were not perfect for tight ends to break out. The fact that Lachey did not see much playing opportunity alone limited his ability to effect change for the Houston offense.
Sometimes a player simply is not a perfect fit. We will see if Lachey makes a difference for the Packers in 2026.