Battle Red Blog
The 2025 NFL Regular Season is finally here, and it’s time to rejoice that our beloved pigskin-based sport has returned! The Houston Texans, just like last year, have Super Bowl-sized expectations entering the 2025 season. In their very first game after a divisional round exit to the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2024 NFL playoffs, the Texans will travel to SoFi Stadium to square off against the Los Angeles Rams to kick off the 2025 NFL regular season. Texans quarterback CJ Stroud and new offensive coordinator Nick Caley seek to get the offense back on track, and get the Texans to their first Super Bowl appearance and championship in franchise history.
But, who are all the new faces? Which player will become Stroud’s favorite new target? Who will be the top tailback while starting running back Joe Mixon is on IR? Who in the world is Aireontae Ersery? Answers to all those questions are all coming up next as we cover five things to watch in game one of the regular season!
One of the most surprising moves of the offseason was the Philadelphia Eagles trading their starting safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson and a 2026 sixth-round pick to the Houston Texans for guard Kenyon Green (who was waived) and a 2026 fifth-round pick. This was maybe the most head-scratching move by Eagles general manager Howie Roseman made this offseason, and a game-changer for the Texans. Gardner-Johnson is a very talented, multi-purpose safety that utilizes his speed, instincts, and hard-hitting style to become a feared defensive back to any opposing offense.
Much like current Texans nickelback Jalen Pitre, Gardner-Johnson can roam all over the field and still be in the right place at the right time. Against the Rams today, expect to see just that: Gardner-Johnson showing up in the box, backing up a few yard off the line of scrimmage, lining up against receivers in coverage, and playing traditional safety. With both Pitre and him on the field at the same time, the Texans defense should be a whole lot more confusing to diagnose for opposing quarterback Matthew Stafford.
Rookie left tackle Aireontae Ersery, taken 48th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft out of Minnesota, has been one of the most exciting developments out of training camp this year. Ersery was originally projected to be the backup tackle behind big free agent signee Cam Robinson, but a lingering injury kept Robinson out of practice and kept Ersery on the field for reps with the first-string offense, where he did more than just impress: he took the starting job in his first year!
Back in April, I had these first impressions on Ersery after the draft:
Ersery is strong against speed rushers (check out his Abdul Carter highlights), but his size doesn’t prevent him from being a quality blocker in space when clearing a path...
