When starting running back Lamar Miller went down in the third preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys with a torn ACL, the Houston Texans’ options on the roster to replace him were undrafted rookies Karan Higdon, Damarea Crockett and veterans Buddy Howell, Josh Ferguson, Duke Johnson, and Taiwan Jones.
Coach Bill O’Brien knew that wasn’t going to cut it, and the Texans traded offensive guard Martinas Rankin to the Kansas City Chiefs on Aug. 31 for running back Carlos Hyde. The 29-year-old, who was on his fourth team since entering the league as the San Francisco 49ers’ 2014 second-round pick, would now have to be a quick study as he prepared to take over the starting role for his fifth team.
“I think everything in this game really is about fit,” O’Brien told reporters Thursday. “He’s a really good fit for us, the way that he runs, his running style, his personality. He came into this year very focused. When we traded for him, he showed up right away, wanted to learn, willing to learn, very coachable guy.”
Hyde crossed the 1,000-yard mark for the first time in his career with 1,057 yards on 241 carries, also a career high, with a game to go. The former Ohio State Buckeye’s six rushing touchdowns are tied for the second-most he has scored in a single season.
“I really like his running style. I like the way he runs the ball, he gets behind his pads, he’s got good vision,” said O’Brien. “Some of the things that we do in our running game fit him very well and I think he does a good job.”
The Texans face the Tennessee Titans at 3:25 p.m. CT on Sunday for their season finale. How many carries Hyde gets remains to be seen as a win won’t get the Texans out of wild-card weekend, even though they are winners of the AFC South. While O’Brien and the team is preparing to win, they have to be judicious and not risk key contributors such as Hyde to unnecessary injuries.
