3 Reasons why David Johnson will bounce back with Texans in 2020

David Johnson Arizona Cardinals (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
David Johnson Arizona Cardinals (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
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Though he cost the Houston Texans a lot through a trade, there are positives about David Johnson joining the team for the 2020 season.

The Houston Texans had a nice running back in Carlos Hyde for the 2019 season as he was a replacement for Lamar Miller, who in his own right was a solid running back during his tenure with the Texans as well.

Even with those two quality players each having a 1,000-plus yard rushing season while in Houston, the Texans haven’t had a game-changing, all-world type of running back on the roster since Arian Foster made the Texans backfield his home.

That statement could change for the 2020 NFL season if David Johnson can become the player he was a few seasons ago before injuries and lack of playing derailed his path in the NFL. Think about it, Johnson in his second season in the NFL carried the football 293 times for his career-high 1,239 yards rushing, and he added 80 receptions that season for 879 yards. That ’16 season he also rushed for 16 touchdowns and caught four more scores.

Then he was hit with a serious injury where surgery on his wrist caused him to miss the final 15 games of the season, as the injury occurred in Week 1. The following season, Johnson returned to rush for 940 yards on 258 carries, averaging just 3.6 yards per carry, though he did have seven rushing touchdowns. That same ’17 season, Johnson also caught 50 passes for 446 yards with three receiving touchdowns.

Then came last season where Johnson didn’t do so well with the Arizona Cardinals, eventually seeing the franchise trade for Kenyan Drake, causing Johnson not to be the starter. The rest is history, as he finished ’19 with 94 carries for 345 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 3.7 yards per carry, while also totaling 36 receptions for 370 yards and four touchdowns.

There can be a lot of positives for having Johnson lead the way at running back for the Texans, and though losing Hopkins is heartbreaking to say the least, Johnson — if healthy — can provide a spark for the Texans offense in their rushing game. Next are three reasons why Johnson can have a bounce-back year with the Texans in 2020.

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