Houston Texans: Tyler Ervin could provide spark in return game

The Houston Texans may finally have a return man who can break some big plays as they will try out rookie running back Tyler Ervin at the spot

Texans fans frustrated by the lack of explosive plays in the return game in recent years may finally see some change in 2016. After spending most of their draft picks acquiring speedy talent, there is suddenly several players to choose from for the role.

One guy who could provide a huge spark for the AFC South champs could be their fourth-round pick out of San Jose State, Tyler Ervin. Drew Dougherty of the team’s official website said that the team plans to allow the running back a chance to compete for the punt return job.

"“One of the last plays he made in college was an 82 yard punt return for a touchdown at San Jose State,” head coach Bill O’Brien said Tuesday via Dougherty. “He’s a very good punt returner.”“Some of them we are teaching because we think they have the skillset to be able to do it,” O’Brien said. “But Tyler, that’s one of the things he’s going to have to do. One of his jobs is going to – he’s going to have to be able to return punts.”"

Ervin, who ran a 4.41 second forty-yard dash at he NFL combine, had three kickoff and two punt return touchdowns during his time as a Spartan. For his career, he averaged 13.3 yards per punt return.

The Texans as a team averaged just 7.3 yards per return in 2015. This was an improvement on their 6.1 yards per return the season before. In 2015 the longest return they had was just 20 yards, whereas the year before was only 21.

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Ervin could be exactly what this special teams unit needs to start being able to flip some field position.