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Houston Texans: 3 Reasons Le’Veon Bell would help franchise

By Stephen Forsha

PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 14: Le'Veon Bell #26 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs with the ball against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the first half of the AFC Divisional Playoff game at Heinz Field on January 14, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 14: Le'Veon Bell #26 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs with the ball against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the first half of the AFC Divisional Playoff game at Heinz Field on January 14, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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HOUSTON, TX – JANUARY 05: Deshaun Watson #4 of the Houston Texans avoids the tackle attempt of George Odum #30 of the Indianapolis Colts and Clayton Geathers #26 during the fourth quarter during the Wild Card Round at NRG Stadium on January 5, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX – JANUARY 05: Deshaun Watson #4 of the Houston Texans avoids the tackle attempt of George Odum #30 of the Indianapolis Colts and Clayton Geathers #26 during the fourth quarter during the Wild Card Round at NRG Stadium on January 5, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

3. Less wear and tear on Deshaun Watson

The Houston Texans really need to get things right with franchise quarterback Deshaun Watson. He can’t have another season of being sacked 67 times in 17 games — including the playoffs — and expect to have a strong, healthy and long-term NFL career.

Houston didn’t make Watson a first-round pick to see him be hit nearly every snap, some of his own doing and some not. In the grand scheme of his career, Watson needs to not carry the football as much, and the Texans need a running back who can fill into the role and be exceptional at it.

That is where Le’Veon Bell comes into play. In his five seasons on the field of play with the Steelers, Bell has shown he’s an elite NFL running back with 5,336 yards rushing on 1,229 carries. In his most recent season in 2017, Bell led the league in rushes at 321, averaging 4.0 yards per carry.

Bell has not only rushed the football over 1,200 times in his five seasons, but he’s also made 85 receptions for 655 yards for 7.7 yards per reception. The Texans haven’t had an elite talent at running back since Arian Foster, and though Lamar Miller is a good running back to have, the Texans have a chance to possibly sign a running back who in three of the past four seasons he’s played (2014-17), when healthy, rushed for over 1,200 yards in each of those seasons.

Numbers like that could really help benefit Watson at quarterback and take some of the pressure off him and the wide receivers of the team.

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