Nearly 40 percent of Texans’ Deshaun Watson’s runs were by design

Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson displayed his dual threat capabilities through all 16 games in 2018, but almost 40 percent of his rushes were designed.

According to data released by Pro Football Focus, the Texans offense called 39 designed runs on the 99 times Watson carried the ball.

Deshaun Watson is one of the best running quarterbacks in the league, but only 39 of his 99 rushes in 2018 were designed plays. His 60 scrambles were 13 more than the Bills' Josh Allen, who had the second-highest total. pic.twitter.com/vl0KU2p5ef

— PFF HOU Texans (@PFF_Texans) February 7, 2019

Watson managed 551 yards and five touchdowns with his runs. The rushing yards were third-most for a quarterback behind the Baltimore Ravens’ Lamar Jackson (695) and Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (631). The five rushing touchdowns were tied with Jackson for the third-most for a quarterback. Allen led the NFL with eight and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott had six.

In the last four weeks of the season, Watson was the Texans’ leading rusher with 30 carries for 176 yards and three touchdowns. The nearest ball carrier was running back Lamar Miller with 34 carries for 97 yards and two touchdowns.