Houston Texans Urged To Sign This Versatile Playmaker

The Houston Texans recently haven’t had much go wrong. It isn’t easy to get most of the NFL zeitgeist to expect big things, but that is what the Texans have accomplished. The sudden arrival of CJ Stroud, Tank Dell, Stefon Diggs, Joe Mixon, and others have instantly put the team on the map. However, with Joe Mixon now injured, the star-studded roster has shrunk just a bit. Noting this, a group of NFL analysts for Bleacher Report have recommended the team add former Vikings and Chiefs veteran running back Jerick McKinnon.

“It’s hard to find running backs at this stage of the game that aren’t completely unproven or at the tail end of their careers. 32-year-old Jerick McKinnon might fall into that latter category, but he still brings value as a pass-catching back. The fact that he spent a lot of time with the Chiefs and could help with some information come playoff time doesn’t hurt either,” they wrote.

McKinnon is still a free agent and could be added for zero draft capital. The back has jumped off the screen at times in his career with a speedy burst. However, his game is mostly that of a pass-catching running back. His last time earning at least 500 yards on the ground was back in 2017. Since then, his best season was in 2022 when he earned 800 total yards in 2022, per Pro Football Reference.

Injury concerns line Houston Texans’ backfield

If he can play like it’s 2022 for even a month of the 2024 season, it would help the offense mask Joe Mixon’s injury considerably. However, even if they elect to roll with Mixon’s backup, they don’t escape injury issues. Per ESPN, Dameon Pierce is also questionable this week.

That leaves Cam Akers to carry any slack. The back, however, isn’t a guarantee to stay healthy, either. When he was with the Rams, Akers missed most of the 2021 season due to an Achilles tear. At this point, the Texans are in desperate need of a running back they can count on to be healthy. At this stage of the game, there are not a lot of options, but McKinnon could be a solid fit.

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