Texans running back Dameon Pierce needs to start Week 1 vs. Colts

The Houston Texans need to have a rookie at RB starting for Week 1 against the Colts, and it shouldn’t be a discussion.

It should be an easy choice, but Dameon Pierce needs to be the starting running back for the Houston Texans when they host the Indianapolis Colts in Week 1 at NRG Stadium. The reason is simple, he gives the Texans an instant spark on offense, and he’s full of energy to showcase his skills at the highest level.

No disrespect to veteran Marlon Mack as he needs to get snaps too, but when Pierce has been in the lineup and on the field for Houston this preseason, the offense had a different feel. Pierce might be the longterm solution at the position, something they haven’t had since Arian Foster was playing the position some time ago.

The Texans have been through a few running backs since Foster was the starter — including Lamar Miller, Alfred Blue, Carlos Hyde, David Johnson, Duke Johnson, Mark Ingram and D’Onta Foreman, to name a few — and none of them have lived up to what Foster brought to the table during his playing career.

Now the Texans have Pierce on the roster, and he just brings a different excitement level, the offense looks different, and the way the unit plays as a whole is improvement when Pierce has been featured this preseason.

In six rushes vs. the 49ers this past Thursday, Pierce totaled 37 yards and had one touchdown. He averaged 6.2 yards per carry, and his best run was 12 yards. Pierce didn’t play in the second preseason game, but in the preseason opener against the New Orleans Saints, the fourth-round pick totaled five carries for 49 yards (9.8 yards per carry), and his best rush went for 20 yards.

Texans got a steal in the 2022 NFL Draft in the fourth round

There were 106 players drafted before the Texans selected Florida running back Dameon Pierce was selected by the Texans in the fourth round, and at least for the preseason, has any running back made an impact like Pierce?

Saying Pierce needs to be started is one thing, but the rest of the running backs on the Houston roster should play a role as well, because Mack, Rex Burkhead and others will be much-needed on this offense.

Houston’s rushing attack in ’21 was awful and at the bottom tier of the league, so it was good to see the front office of the franchise make changes needed, because with this current group of running backs, there is no way they will be last in the NFL for the 2022 season.

What is also great about Pierce is the fact he can be a back with some speed, but also a back that can run the opposing defense on any given carry.

This season at running back will be exciting, and a lot of that is due to the fact Pierce is on the roster. He needs to be inserted as the starter from Week 1, and great things will happen for him and the offense.