Battle Red Blog
Houston, you have a backup running back....
There are few transactions in Houston Texans history that have made a curmudgeon like me giggle. A short, silly, and gleeful laugh emitted from my soul. Adding four-time Pro Bowl running back Nick Chubb to the Houston Texans offense is a savvy and exhilarating decision.
The excitement can be felt throughout Houston, but the addition will illicit a different emotion in the running back room at NRG Stadium. Each current RB on the Houston Texans’ roster will feel the Texas summer heat from this acquisition. We will break down how Nick Chubb impacts each running back and the sentiment associated with each player.
NFL teams on average keep three, sometimes four running backs on a 53-man roster so keep that in mind when reviewing this analysis.
Post-Signing Sentiment: growing concern for injury
If the Texans were fully confident in Joe Mixon’s health heading into 2024, I do not think they still pull this move off. Mixon was seen in a walking boot during voluntary summer workouts stemming from an offseason surgery.
The Texans overused Mixon in their first season with him and paid the price. Assuming he’s fully healthy, Mixon will still see a reduced workload with Chubb on the roster—even after topping 1,000 rushing yards in 2024.
I imagine both he and Mixon will by vying for starting reps throughout training camp. The last time Nick Chubb wasn’t the starter, he was a sophomore running back in high school.
Post-Chubb Signing Sentiment: holding out hope against impending doom
Dare Ogumbowale is that girl you just can’t quit. He’s that unfinished chocolate cake calling your name in your freezer. Dare has been the understudy’s understudy in Houston for three seasons now primarily in pass blocking duties and has been cast off by fans each of those three seasons.
His true strength has been his availability; Ogumbowale was the only healthy RB or TE for all 17 games. That counts. The ninth-year running back may be more impacted by the change in offensive coordinator than Nick Chubb’s attendance in Houston, but the added competition can’t be good for Ogumbowale.
And who knows... he once again was brought back on a one-year contract and will be in Deep Steel Blue until someone knocks him off his spot on the depth chart.
Post-Chubb Signing Sentiment: lack of confidence
If the Texans felt confident in their rookie, why would they go out of their way to risk $5M on Chubb?
The rookie can’t be enjoying the added competition in an already crowded running back room. Marks’ hope is that Chubb and Pierce are duplicative in their roles on the offense and the Texans honor their commitment to the rookie. Marks is a unique talent on the roster and deserves to develop on the team.
He needs to endure the short term chaos to receive long-term benefits. Between Pierce’s ticking clock, Mixon’s injury, Dare’s age and usefulness, and Chubb’s...
