Houston Texans continue to probe market for running backs
By Jair Lopez
The Houston Texans brought two running backs in for workouts after their bye week.
The Houston Texans continue their busy week leading up to their tenth game of the season against the Baltimore Ravens after having Week 10 off due to a scheduled bye. The Texans signed defensive end Joel Heath after J.J. Watt’s season-ending surgery to repair a torn pectoral muscle and activated tight end, Jordan Thomas, to practice after he was placed on the injured reserve to begin the season.
Houston hasn’t stopped there as they brought in Jeremy Hill and Elijah McGuire to work out at running back, according to Aaron Reiss of The Athletic. The Texans have been rather successful at running the football this season, but they have done their due diligence by working out ball carriers throughout the season.
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The run game for the Texans is currently ranked fourth in league with an average of 142.8 rushing yards through their first nine games. Carlos Hyde and Duke Johnson have been a solid one-two-punch combo against opposing NFL defenses, but there is little depth behind them at running back.
Gregory Howell and Taiwan Jones are the other two running backs that round out the backend of the depth chart, but both backs have been at best contributors on special teams. Houston could require a third running back that is capable of contributing to the offense if needed, with the third and fourth running back having a redundant role on the roster.
Hill started in 43 of the 55 games he has appeared in since being drafted in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. He signed a one year contract with the New England Patriots after his rookie deal expired but tore his ACL in the 2018 season opener against the Texans. Hill has accumulated 2,898 yards over 708 carries and rushed for 29 touchdowns before his season-ending injury.
McGuire, on the other hand, was drafted by the New York Jets in 2017 and appeared with the team for two seasons before being waived. He rushed for 591 yards over 180 attempts for four touchdowns.
Next. Texans re-sign Joel Heath to fortify defensive line. dark
According to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, both workouts went well but the Texans did not sign them immediately after the workout. However, this doesn’t mean they aren’t viable options in the future.