Hunched over the football, Jake Andrews scanned the defense as Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud barked out his cadence at the line of scrimmage.
Andrews was back to work Wednesday after missing a Monday night game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers due to a milder level high ankle sprain suffered in the opening game against the Los Angeles Rams.
Andrews was replaced in the starting lineup by backup center Jarrett Patterson. He was limited Wednesday and there is optimism he could get back on the field Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars for the winless Texans.
“It was pretty good,” Andrews told KPRC 2. “I mean, it was low intensity, but you know, it’s nice to be back out there, wasn’t too far too far removed from it, just working on it.”
When Andrews got hurt during the opening game, a loss to the Rams at SoFi Stadium, there was concern that it might be a long-term injury. He couldn’t put much weight on it initially. He was carted off the field as a precautionary measure. Tests showed it wasn’t a severe sprain and there w as no structural damage.
“I knew it wasn’t anything fantastic,” Andrews said. “At I first I thought, ‘Okay, let me just stand up, it’ll be fine.’ And then I stood up, and it wasn’t great. So, it’s doing a lot better now. And so we’re going to go from where we are right now and take it day by day and try to keep working at it.”
The Texans got Andrews back on the practice field along with wide receivers Christian Kirk and Braxton Berrios from hamstring injuries. The offense, which ranks last in scoring, needs all the reinforcements it can get.
“It felt good, hot out there, you know, it’s 48 hours removed from a from a tough loss, and you know I think we had a good day despite all of that,” Andrews said. ” We need to have a good day Thursday, good day Friday, hop on the plane Saturday and try to see what we can do on Sunday to turn this thing around.”
#Texans center Jake Andrews says he felt good today in first practice back from sprained ankle, looking forward to Sunday @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/WXocJ60v3u
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) September 17, 2025
A former New England Patriots fourth-round draft pick from Troy University, Andrews was acquired off waivers from the Texans in the spring.
With Tytus Howard now playing right tackle and an offseason trade of five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil and already multiple offensive line configurations and six sacks allowed combined in two games, the Texans’ offensive line is in a time of flux. Having the original depth chart of left tackle Aireontae Ersery, left guard Laken Tomlinson, Andrews at center, Ed Ingram at right guard and Howard at his natural right tackle spot could give the offense a boost.
“Just like basketball, you got to have that sixth guy, sometimes that seventh guy,” Andrews said of all of the constant changes. “I mean it’s the NFL, you know, stuff stuff’s going to happen. You’re not going to have all five all year long. If you do, that’s awesome.”
After missing last season with a torn meniscus in his knee, Andrews had his moments in training camp while getting acclimated to a new offense led by offensive coordinator Nick Caley. The offensive line has been overhauled, and Andrews is an important part of changes intended to upgrade protection for quarterback C.J. Stroud and establish the run.
“I can’t speak for everybody, but I think we would all agree that we all have a lot of work to do,” Andrews said. “So, it’s about being the best football player I can be for the Houston Texans right now.“
Andrews, 25, is a former All-Sun Belt Conference selection. He has played in 16 career games with one start in the NFL.
When he was in college, he played one season for Cole Popovich, his position coach and the Texans’ run game coordinator. Popovich is a former New England offensive line coach, but he didn’t overlap with Andrews with the Patriots.
Andrews and Popovich have built a strong relationship, and reuniting in Houston has been fun.
“I don’t want to say comfortable, but it’s a friendly face,” Andrews said. “So, I’m excited to be back with him. Obviously, a good coach and mentor for me. So, I’m just really excited about having a familiar face.”
Popovich is a former protege of legendary retired Patriots offensive line coach Dante Scarneccia. His influence is being felt to this day in Houston as he uses his mentor’s teachings and applies them to the Texans’ fundamentals and techniques.
“Scar is obviously one of the best offensive line coaches that’s ever been, and he’s got his philosophy and he’s always stuck to it,” Andrews said. “Pop has done a good job of embracing that. Scar was a mentor for Pop, amongst others. And we have a lot of the same sayings, we talk the same way. Of course, everything evolves and everything’s a little bit different.
“The main thing is still the main thing. On that aspect, I think Pop is a really good leader and a really good learner and I thinks he’s just done a good job of embracing all that because he had so much time with Scar and other people and he’s just probably you know he’s taking a little bit of everything from everywhere he’s with and he is doing a great job.”
Andrews (6-foot-3, 305 pounds has run the 40-yard dash in 5.15 seconds and bench pressed 225 pounds 29 times.
Those qualities as well as his knowledge of the game and a blue-collar work ethic are serving him well so far in Houston.
“Just a good worker,” Andrews said. “I’m gonna be out here practicing doing whatever I’m asked to do every day.”
Andrews has made a positive first impression on his new teammates. Howard and Andrews are both Alabama natives who stayed home for college.
“Jake’s a great dude,” Howard said. “He’s from Alabama and I’m from Alabama so we’ve got a lot in common. He played at Troy, and I played at Alabama State, which is like 25 minutes away from each other. He’s a smart kid.
“He knows the game. He knows his offense really good. He’s very fast with all the calls. He’s just a great teammate. He works hard every day. Nothing but good things about him.”
While playing for the Patriots, Andrews worked his way through an extensive rehab process for his knee. It took time to get back to full strength. Ultimately, the Patriots moved on in the spring and the Texans moved fast to acquire Andrews.
“A little bit of adversity, obviously,” Andrews said. “I think everybody goes through that as a rookie. If you’re playing in the trenches as a rookie, you’re just trying to make it through. It doesn’t matter what happens, you try to make it through.
“And then having spent a whole season on IR, that adds a little adversity. And I learned what that was like and I learned that process and stuff like that. And so I have a little, I don’t like to say a chip on my shoulder, but something, just from having a year off and having to watch.”
Andrews is well aware of the Texans’ recent history and reputation as a blocking operation. A year ago, the Texans allowed Stroud to be sacked 52 times during the regular season. He was sacked eight times and hit 14 times overall in a playoff loss to the Kansas City Chiefs
Playing with Stroud, a former NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, has been a lot of fun for Andrews. They’re building their timing and communication.
“It’s awesome,” Andrews said. “Obviously, he was a top-five pick a couple years ago, the same year I came out. Ohio State, really good teams back then, too. So, it’s really awesome to see guys like that, that you always feel like you always see on TV and you maybe see him across the sidelines, but you never really get a relationship with him. So, it is nice to start building that with him, he is a great guy, great leader and I am really excited to continue working with him.”
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com