Duke Johnson never got any time as the unquestioned No. 1 running back option in his four seasons in Cleveland. Even in his rookie season, when Johnson got a career-high 165 touches (104 carries, 61 receptions), he split the Browns backfield with Isaiah Crowell.
Now the former Browns RB will get his shot with his new team, the Houston Texans. Johnson sits firmly atop the Texans RB depth chart after the devastating knee injury which cost longtime Houston starter Lamar Miller his 2019 season.
Johnson, traded to the Texans earlier this preseason, is No. 1 with a bullet above Josh Ferguson, Damarea Crockett, Karan Higdon and Buddy Howell. That’s the current Texans depth chart at running back. Sort of explains why they were willing to give the Browns a third-round pick to acquire Johnson, at the time tenuously clinging to the No. 3 RB role in Cleveland.
Many expect Houston to pursue another veteran option before the start of the season, but Johnson remains in line for a major role in Houston.
