David Johnson may have had his highest yards per carry in a single-season with 4.7 in 2020, but it felt like another down year for the newly acquired Houston Texans running back.
Short of winning the league rushing title, nothing that Johnson could do would be good enough given he was part of the trade that sent receiver DeAndre Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals.
In 2021, with the attention off of Johnson, with another year in the Texans’ system that included an actual offseason program, the former 2016 All-Pro says he is starting to get comfortable in the offense.
“Last year was my first year on the team and then with everything with COVID, we didn’t get a chance to do a lot preparing for the season,” said Johnson. “This year, I think we are just getting more familiar with each other.”
Offensive coordinator Tim Kelly, who is in his third year on the job and second as play-caller, is also getting a better feel of how to utilize Johnson, especially amid the committee that also features Mark Ingram and Phillip Lindsay.
Against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 1, Johnson rushed three times for 10 yards but also caught three passes for 18 yards and a touchdown.
“He can figure out ways to utilize me and utilize all the running backs and come up with creative plays or plays to get me out in space,” Johnson said.
As to who is the leader of the running back committee, Johnson suggests that it all depends on what is happening in the game. Last week, Ingram led the way with 26 carries for 85 yards and a touchdown.
Said Johnson: “I think [Kelly] is just going to go with the game flow, what’s going on, what the defense is giving us, and we will see what happens.”
The Texans will see what happens when they face the Cleveland Browns Sunday at 12:00 p.m. Central Time at FirstEnergy Stadium. Whoever has the hot hand could carry the Texans to their second victory of 2021.
