HOUSTON – Hunched over the football, Jarrett Patterson delivered a shotgun snap adeptly to quarterback C.J. Stroud.
Their communication was a familiar and routine one. And that dovetails with how Patterson and Stroud have built a strong relationship.
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Patterson has started 16 of 23 games since being drafted in the sixth round out of Notre Dame, overlapping with Stroud for the past three seasons.
Now, he steps in as the starting center again Monday night against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with Jake Andrews out with a high-ankle sprain.
“It’s always good,” Patterson said. “The center-quarterback exchange, obviously, that starts the whole play, the whole process of the offense. Been there with C.J. a few times, we worked together really well.
“You know how to communicate with each other. So, it’s been a good experience. That’s my guy, on and off the field. So, I’m excited to be out there with him."
From Stroud’s standpoint, this feels like old times.
He even has a nickname, “Slime,” for Patterson, who never allowed a sack in college in 48 games and 3,099 snaps.
“Me and J-Pat have done a good job early on in our careers of finding a good relationship on calls on really just everything like snaps,” Stroud said. “He does a good job of getting the guys where I’m going and getting them going. So, I thought when he stepped in, he did a good job.
“Of course, we’re going to miss Jake and he was doing a really good job, too. I just try to do as best I can with whatever I have. It sucks I have a lot of experience with backup centers, which is not unfortunate all the time, but at the same time, I love J-Pat. He’s a great player and he’s going to do great for us.”
Patterson finished the game against the Los Angeles Rams, a 14-9 loss at SoFi Stadium, as the first-team center. A third-year pro, Patterson is regarded as a reliable technician style of blocker.
“Patterson has done a nice job,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “Patterson has played a lot of ball for us. He filled in last year. He stepped in. Wherever, guard, center, Patterson is going to give you everything he has. That’s all we expect from him. I’m encouraged with how he plays.”
Patterson and the Texans’ offensive line face a tough matchup Monday night against Buccaneers nose tackle Vita Vea. At 6-foot-4, 347 pounds, Vea is one of the largest and most talented interior defensive linemen in the NFL. He is a two-time Pro Bowl selection who has recorded 224 areer tackles, 30 1/2 sacks and three forced fumbles.
The Buccaneers limited Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson to 24 rushing yards on 12 carries last week in a win.
“Obviously, like an elite player,” Patterson said. “Obviously he’s a large, large human, but he’s also very explosive and moves well. A lot of people know he’s pretty good with his hands. Especially with Vea, you gotta be on at all times. And just from the whole defense, very exotic.
“Todd Bowles, he dials it up a lot, especially in the third down. So, communication this week is gonna be huge for us. Just working as one, that’s the biggest thing being cohesive out there. Straining to finish. I’ll be taking care of the double-teams. No penetration the run game, finishing the run game. That’s where the explosive runs come from. That’s what we keep working on.”
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com