‘Feel like I’m going into my rookie year all over again,’ Texans lineman LaDarius Henderson gets a reboot

HOUSTON – A year ago, LaDarius Henderson endured a slow burn as his entire rookie season was lost to a foot injury that required surgery.

The former seventh-round draft pick and national champion at the University of Michigan missed the season while rehabbing his injury.

Healthy again, Henderson is displaying the potential he showed for the Wolverines as a first-team All-Big Ten Conference selection.

During his convalescence, Henderson has drawn praise from the Texans for his dedication to getting healthy and in optimal condition. And fans of the defending AFC South champions have expressed a lot of interest in his progress and potential.

“I kind of feel like I’m going into my rookie year all over again, but just with a little bit more experience than all the other rookies,” said Henderson, who is practicing in organized team activities and attended teammate Jalen Pitre’s youth football camp Saturday at Stafford High School. “I really feel like that. I’m glad to hear that there are people who care. For those fans, let’s know we’re getting better every day and we’re just continuing to work.”

Henderson participated in the Texans’ rookie minicamp as he heads into what’s the equivalent of a do-over of his first NFL season.

“Yeah, very encouraged with LaDarius and how he’s just went about the process,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “Just throughout the offseason, throughout the entire season just seeing LaDarius show up every day, smile on his face, having that joy. He gives me energy just seeing him in the building how excited he is to just work, get better, weight room, on the field. We wanted to get him out here in the rookie minicamp because he didn’t have this time last year, just get on the field.

“Trying to get him just the extra time to get out, get some coaching sessions with coach Popovich and he’s doing a great job so far. I’m just excited to see how this journey continues to go for him because it’s definitely headed in the right direction and he’s done everything the right way, everything you could possibly do to put yourself in position to have a successful year, he’s done that.”

Signed to a four-year, $4.103 million deal that includes an $83,716 signing bonus, Henderson (6-4, 309 pounds) became an immediate starter at Michigan after transferring from Arizona State.

Although he has a background at tackle as a 10-game starter at left tackle for Michigan, Henderson, a native of Waxhachie selected 249th overall last year, is playing guard primarily for offensive line coach and run game coordinator Cole Popovich.

“It’s been a long time coming and I’m just so excited to be back out there because it just sucks not being a part of things,” Henderson said. “Just fun to be out there with coach Pop and the guys around me. We’re just getting better every day. I think that’s really like part of the culture of our team like we just had a O-line dinner.

“I feel like just a lot of guys are kind of close on this team, which you kind of hear once you leave college like all that brotherhood said to be gone. And I wouldn’t necessarily say that’s entirely the case for us. I would say the vibe right now is just working hard and wanting that to be the thing that we kind of hang our hat on."

Henderson bench pressed 225 pounds 22 times for NFL scouts and had a 4.72 short shuttle heading into the draft.

When Ryans was drafted, Texans general manager Nick Caserio brought up his versatility.

“Specific to Henderson, he has experience maybe more inside than outside,” Caserio said last year. “He was at Arizona State, played some guard. We think Henderson can probably play inside, with the ability to bump out the tackle, like we talked about a little bit, tackle-centric and tackle-focused.”

At Arizona State, Henderson blocked for future Washington Commanders star quarterback Jayden Daniels. At Michigan, he protected Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy. Now, he’s playing with C.J. Stroud.

“Jayden was one of my best friends,” Henderson said. “We were roommates, and I just got to see how special of a talent he was just coming straight out of high school just in the way he carried himself. J.J. was already a pretty developed quarterback. Man, by the time I got to him, it was just fun to be around him, watch him lead.

“And now being with CJ, this guy is amazing and I think he’s a fantastic leader. So just kind of the way they all lead the team, lead their teams they’ve been on. It’s no surprise that they’re all first-round quarterbacks. It’s like your quarterback needs to be a great leader and I would say CJ definitely is."

Working with youth football players Saturday was rewarding for Henderson.

“I love kids, me and my wife,” Henderson said. “I’ve always been passionate about doing things with kids. My wife, if she wasn’t my wife, she’d probably be a teacher. It just means a lot, because I know when I was a kid if I could’ve done something like this I would’ve loved it.

“Really just being a good friend for Jalen, because Jalen would do the exact same thing for me, so I wanna make sure I’m here for him, and Stafford, you know, because I’d know he would do the exact thing for me."

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com