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The sight of Braden Smith leaving Wednesday’s joint practice on a cart looked like another potentially devastating August blow for the Houston Texans. One day later, Houston can exhale, at least a little. Smith suffered a plantar fascia injury and is expected to miss a few weeks, but multiple reports Thursday indicated the injury is not considered long-term. That's encouraging news for a Texans offense that can hardly afford another major setback, but it also turns an already interesting right tackle competition into something worth watching all the way to Week 1.

Braden Smith Gets Better-Than-Expected News

Smith was carted from Wednesday's joint practice with the Carolina Panthers after injuring his foot. ESPN reported Thursday that the veteran tackle injured his plantar fascia and could miss several weeks, but avoided the type of major injury initially feared when he left the field.

That's a win considering how Wednesday looked. Houston signed Smith during the offseason after eight seasons with Indianapolis. He has started 105 of 107 career games and joined the Texans on a two-year deal worth up to $25 million.

The original expectation was straightforward: Put an experienced blocker on the right side and give C.J. Stroud another dependable piece in a reconstructed offensive line.

Now the timeline becomes important. Houston opens the regular season Sept. 13 against the Buffalo Bills. A recovery measured in "a few weeks" doesn't necessarily eliminate Smith from that game, but it certainly puts his availability into question. There is no reason to rush him. Not with another veteran already making his case.

Trent Brown Has Quietly Moved Into the Driver’s Seat

Trent Brown has been working with Houston's first-team offensive line recently and started at right tackle during the Texans' second preseason game against Las Vegas.

Houston's starting combination that night featured Aireontae Ersery at left tackle, Keylan Rutledge at left guard, Evan Brown at center, Ed Ingram at right guard and Trent Brown at right tackle. That's significant.

Smith entered camp as a favorite for the job, but Brown's recent work with the starters suggests this wasn't simply a ceremonial competition even before Wednesday's injury.

At 6-foot-8 and 380 pounds, Brown certainly doesn't lack size. The 33-year-old also brings 12 seasons of NFL experience. Houston's current roster confirms Brown remains firmly in the tackle competition as the preseason concludes.

If Brown performs well, Houston doesn't need to force Smith back onto the field before he's ready. That's exactly why veteran depth matters.

Blake Fisher May Be the Bigger Story

Then there's Blake Fisher. The third-year tackle has apparently made substantial progress during camp, with DeMeco Ryans offering perhaps the strongest endorsement an offensive lineman can receive from his head coach.

Ryans said Fisher would receive his award for Houston's most improved offensive lineman, praising his daily development, work ethic and response to coaching. Fisher started 10 of 16 games last season and owns 15 career starts.

That's worth remembering. NFL roster construction isn't simply about having five starters. It's about surviving when one of those five isn't available.

If Fisher has genuinely taken a developmental jump, Smith's temporary absence becomes considerably easier to manage.

Houston closes the preseason Friday against Carolina, and Ryans has indicated the starters won't play. That's a good decision. Friday should belong to Fisher and the other players trying to secure backup jobs before the roster is trimmed to 53. Smith's injury makes those evaluations even more important.

My Two Pennies

Thursday's news could have been considerably worse. When a starting-caliber offensive tackle leaves practice on a cart in late August, your mind immediately starts thinking about months instead of weeks.

Houston apparently avoided that nightmare. Now don't create another problem by rushing Smith. Let Trent Brown handle the right side if he's earned it. Give Fisher meaningful work. Allow Smith's foot to recover and reassess the situation when Buffalo week arrives.

The Texans have spent two offseasons rebuilding the wall around Stroud. Maybe the best sign of progress isn't having five perfect starters, or maybe it's losing one veteran for a few weeks and realizing you still have options.

That's the kind of depth Houston is going to need if it expects to be playing football deep into January.

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