The Houston Texans revamped their backfield after a subpar run game in 2020. First-year general manager Nick Caserio added Mark Ingram and Phillip Lindsay as free agents while retaining David Johnson, who led the team in rushing last season (691).
Upon the start of the 2021 season, Houston has an intriguing backfield that features three Pro-Bowl running backs, each of which who has a legitimate chance to be hailed as the Texans’ starting back come Week 1 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
“When it comes to competition, you have to understand it is a 17-game season and we are going to need each other,” Lindsay said following OTA practice on Wednesday. “The closer we are with each other, it’s going to feel more like a family. And I think we are building that right now.”
Fourth-year running back coach Danny Barrett said he believes the depth at the position is enough to improve the Texans’ run game this coming season. In 2020, Houston ended the year second to last in average rushing, recorded 91.6 yards on the ground through 16 games.
The most significant upgrade to the Texans run game this year could be Lindsay.
The 26-year-old running back from Denver is seeking redemption after a subpar individual season during his final year with the Broncos. After signing with his hometown team as an undrafted free agent in 2018, Lindsay has rushed for over 1,000 yards twice in his first three career seasons.
“He has energy and juice,” first-year coach David Culley said. “In a way, I kinda see myself in him. We know what he has done throughout his career, and he has been that same guy since he has been here with us. He has fit in perfectly with our running back group.”
Lindsay expects the Texans’ running back group to surprise people and believes they can do great things together as a core. The one player he is most excited to work alongside and learn from in Houston is Ingram, who Lindsay said he grew up watching as a little kid.
“You can always learn, and that is life in general,” he said. “If somebody tells you they are done learning, they are wrong. You can always learn something. For me, it is great to have someone like Mark Ingram in the room. He is a great due. This is a great running back room, and we are going to surprise a lot of people.”
