The Houston Texans have some new faces in running back David Johnson, receiver Brandin Cooks, and rookie Ross Blacklock to say the least. However, the defending AFC South champions will feature plenty of continuity in 2020.
According to new data from ESPN analyst Mike Tannenbaum aggregated by Over The Cap, the Texans are tied for the sixth-most returning snaps in the NFL at 81.0%.
One of the areas where the Texans will benefit from such continuity is along the offensive line. Houston is returning all five starters, a feat not accomplished in the Deshaun Watson era. Even the two-time Pro Bowler’s presence under provides Houston stability as it is one of the boxes of evaluation that’s pre-checked as the club progresses throughout training camp.
In terms of stability on the offensive side, the Texans have 84.1% of their snaps returning, which is the 10th-most in the league. Part of that is due to the offensive line, even though there are two new receivers and a new running back coming into the offensive huddle.
Another reason for the high number of returning snaps is coach and general manager Bill O’Brien’s belief that 2020 will be a difficult year for rookies to contribute. That is why the Texans had a small five-man draft class and why they didn’t stash their roster with undrafted free agents.
The continuity from 2019 to the extraordinary year where the league is bending pro football to fit around the COVID-19 pandemic gives the Texans an advantage. The only teams ahead of Houston on the list are the Pittsburgh Steelers (84.0%), Kansas City Chiefs (83.9%), and Indianapolis Colts (83.4%). The Texans have 10 other games against teams that will have fewer returning snaps.
The Jacksonville Jaguars have 77.9% of their snaps returning, and the Tennessee Titans, who challenged the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game, have 73.9% of their snaps returning.
