Houston Texans News: 5 position battles to watch post NFL Draft

4. Texans News: The depth chart for running backs

It is all but a lock that the Houston Texans are keeping David Johnson and Duke Johnson at the top of the running back depth chart. With their roster spots being safe for past production with either the Texans or another team they’ve played for in the past, where will the battle come from?

The roster battle at running back will be between Buddy Howell, Karan Higdon, and rookie Scottie Phillips, who was an undrafted free agent signing.

The Texans news here should be two of the three will stay with the team (if Houston keeps four running backs, excluding fullback Cullen Gillaspia), and with two of them (Higdon and Howell), the Texans know who and what the players are all about.

The addition of Phillips is interesting as he makes the running back battle competitive because of his potential that has yet to be seen in an NFL uniform. Phillips played two seasons at Ole Miss, and in 20 games as a junior and senior, he totaled 278 carries for 1,470 yards, averaging 5.3 yards per carry. Phillips also scored 17 rushing touchdowns and three receiving touchdowns in his time playing in the SEC.

Though Phillips wasn’t drafted, he is a player that will be battling to make the main roster. He ran a 4.56 40-yard dash at the combine in February, and what could help him make the roster is his ability to rush the football, plus his ability to catch passes, which is a part of his game that’s he’s still improving on.