Howard sustained the injury during Sunday's game and subsequent tests confirmed the severity, leading to the decision for him to undergo surgery for repair.

Howard's absence will undoubtedly be felt by the Texans, as he has been a key contributor alongside standout offensive lineman Laremy Tunsil. This season, Howard had previously spent four games on the injured reserve list, making his latest setback a frustrating development for both him and the team.

The Texans have been plagued by injuries to several linemen throughout the season, and with Howard now joining the injured reserve list, Houston finds themselves with a total of five linemen sidelined. This accumulation of injuries has put a strain on the team's offensive line depth and will test their ability to adapt moving forward.

Reflecting on the changes that have occurred since the release of the Cleveland Browns' schedule, anticipation for their Week 16 matchup against the Texans has shifted dramatically. Quarterback Deshaun Watson, who was initially expected to lead Houston against his former team, will now be out for the remainder of the season due to unrelated circumstances. Additionally, the Texans, once projected to be among the conference's struggling teams, have surprised many as they now find themselves in contention for a playoff spot, aided by the emergence of rookie quarterback CJ Stroud.

With weeks still remaining before the highly anticipated clash between the Browns and Texans, both teams have the opportunity to make further adjustments and potentially alter the landscape even more. As for Houston, they will need to overcome the loss of Howard and seek alternative solutions to solidify their offensive line if they hope to continue their strong push in the playoffs race.

It remains to be seen how the absence of Tytus Howard will impact the Texans' performance going forward, but they will undoubtedly be facing a challenge to maintain their offensive prowess without one of their key offensive linemen. As the season progresses, the Texans will need to rely on their depth and the remaining healthy players to mitigate the impact of this significant injury setback.