The Houston Texans are officially beyond the halfway point of the 2025 NFL season, and according to head coach DeMeco Ryans, that's more than enough time for the training wheels to come off for the handful of rookies who have immediately managed to settl into a key role for the two-time defending division champions this year.
Ryans knows a thing or two about making an impact right out of the gate. Not only did Ryans oversee the rookie seasons of both CJ Stroud and Will Anderson Jr., a pair of stars who were named Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year respectively in 2023, but Ryans himself was named Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2006 after leading the NFL in solo tackles in his first pro season.