Houston Texans (1-2) offensive lineman Kendrick Green gave an honest answer when asked about facing his former team, the Pittsburgh Steelers (2-1), in Week 4 this Sunday.
Green, whom the Steelers traded to the Texans in exchange for a 2025 sixth-round pick on Aug. 29, said he’s “glad” Pittsburgh traded him, and is fortunate to have landed in Houston.
“I’m glad it happened. I’m glad I’m not there anymore. Glad to be here, on top of that,” Green said, via Aaron Wilson of KRPC in Houston. “I’m just looking at it as just another game, going out there to play my best. Just good that I’ll see some familiar faces on the other side. Got put in a pretty tough spot when I was there, and just think it’s fortunate the way it worked out.”
The Steelers selected Green in the third-round of the 2021 NFL Draft out of Illinois. He started 15 games at center during his rookie season after beating out J.C. Hassenauer for the starting job. Green struggled in the role, penalized nine times and allowing three sacks in 975 snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. He recorded an overall grade of 52.4.
The Steelers moved Green to left guard in 2022, where he was beaten out by Kevin Dotson for the starting job. Green served as a gameday inactive for all 17 games. He’s gotten a fresh start on an upstart Texans team, and has yet to allow a sack in 140 snaps.
Kendrick Green facing tall task stopping Steelers pass rush
He’ll face not only his former teammates, but the NFL’s top pass rush in Week 4. The Steelers have recorded a league-leading 13 sacks in three games, with T.J. Watt leading the way with 6.0 sacks. With injuries all along the offensive line, Green and co. will have their toughest task yet keeping rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud upright.
“The challenge is about as high as it gets,” offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik said Thursday. “T.J. leads the league in sacks. I think he leads the league in pressures. [Alex] Highsmith on the other side is right up there. I think he’s second behind T.J. in forced fumbles over the last two years. We’ve talked about it a lot.”
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