The Texans signed left tackle Duane Brown to a new contract last Thursday, locking up a durable anchor to help in protecting Matt Schaub and open holes for Arian Foster.

Terms of the agreement were not revealed and Brown’s agent, Andy Ross, didn’t straight away return a telephone message. The media claimed that the team had reached an agreement with Brown, whose contract was due to expire after this season. Football spreads

The 6-foot-4, 320-pound Brown has started all but 4 games since the Texans drafted him with the 26th overall pick in 2008. Brown earned Associated Press All-Pro 2nd team honors in 2011 after helping the Houston Texans set a franchise record for yards rushing (2,448). Brown was not requested holding once last season.

”We are excited to have solidified our offensive line with this extension for Duane,” Texans GM Rick Smith said. ”We believe Duane is a superb young left tackle who’s got the determination, commitment and capability to develop into one of the NFL’s top performers. It is also a thrilling day for our organization. We’ve laid the footing for sustained success and this is a major step in building on that and toward a championship.”

The Texans (No. 6 in the AP Pro32) play San Francisco (No. 4) in their 2nd preseason game on Saturday at Reliant Stadium. Schaub and outside linebacker Connor Barwin also remain unsigned past this season.

Houston will break in new, fulltime starters on the right side of the line. Brown has started all 16 regular-season games in 3 of his 1st 4 seasons. Schaub called Brown the best left tackle in the league before training camp began.

Brown was suspended 4 games in 2010 for a positive test for a supplement on the league’s list of banned substances. He acknowledged then that he made a ”naive” mistake and was scared straight by ”the longest 4 weeks of my life.” Offensive line coach John Benton says Brown has shown a new level of maturity and leadership since returning from the suspension.

Brown seems to have luck on his side, too, lately. Early in camp, Brown got tangled in a pile and came out limping. An MRI examination showed only a bone bruise in his lower left leg, and Brown was back at practice the following week.

Brown married radio host and TV personality Devon ”Devi Dev’ ‘ Anjelica in Southern California in July and the 2 went on a weeklong honeymoon in Thailand. His better half acknowledged him on her social account shortly after news of his agreement leaked out.

”Congrats to the person I like (at) DuaneBrown76 on a well earned new agreement,” she wrote. ”(asterisk) Houston Texas, home of the Texans. (asterisk).”

Brown turns 27 years old on August 30, yet another reason to celebrate a remarkable year, personally and professionally.

”It’s been a heck of a year,” Brown announced. ”I’ve been extremely blessed, I am very grateful. I’ve got to thank my wife, she has been really supportive. To go from marriage to honeymoon to training camp and get a new contract, and my birthday’s coming up. It has been an awe-inspiring year for me.”