One thing that has been evident throughout the first two games of the season for the Houston Texans is that the offense has struggled.
Really bad.
They rank 28th overall in total yards (265.5 ypg), 28th in passing yards (166.0), and last in scoring offense (14 ppg).
Sometimes, they seem to have it all together, like during the first two drives on Monday night against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, when they scored an opening drive touchdown pass from quarterback C.J. Stroud to wide receiver Nico Collins. They followed that with a field goal from Kaimi Fairbairn.
Other times, the offense appears stale, as it did in the season opener against the Los Angeles Rams, where they could only score nine points.
However, what is clear is that first-year offensive coordinator Nick Caley and Stroud need some sort of boost to get the offense on track after a 0-2 start.
On Wednesday, they received the energy boost they had been seeking with the return of slot receivers Christian Kirk and Braxton Berrios as they prepare to face divisional rival Jacksonville Jaguars.
This will be a homecoming for Kirk, who spent the last three seasons with the Jaguars, where he gained 2,274 yards and scored 12 touchdowns. In March, the Texans traded a 2026 seventh-round pick for the former Texas A&M University wideout.
Photo Credit - @Troy Taormina - Imagn Images Kirk and Berrios missed the first two games of the season due to hamstring injuries suffered in training camp.
“I feel like I can bring a sense of reliability,” said Kirk at his locker after practice when asked about being reinserted into the lineup. “To be able to win in tight situations on third downs, critical downs.
I am just going to go out there and do what I am best at, and do what is required of me, and do what the offense is asking of me. I am just excited to get out there and contribute.”
During his weekly press conference, C.J. Stroud emphasized how important it is to get the two players back that he had built a rapport with during training camp, especially Kirk.
“He’s very smart, very savvy, fast, runs great routes, great hands, a leader, somebody who loves ball.”
Not only will the offense get help with the return of Braxton Berrios, but the special teams will as well. He was a First Team All-Pro in 2021 when he was with the Miami Dolphins.
Houston signed Berrios in the offseason to a one-year deal after only playing in six games in 2024 due to injury.
“Very excited,” Berrios responded when asked about finally being on the field with Stroud on Sunday. “We have practiced for months (training camp), and now it is time to let loose.”