Texans RB Phillip Lindsay seeks to form bond with fellow running backs

Houston Texans running back Phillip Lindsay looks to form a bond with his fellow running backs and lift them up throughout open competition.

The Houston Texans have seven running backs on the roster with three of them being former Pro Bowlers. The expectation is there will be tremendous competition to get to be the bell-cow in the Texans’ running game.

While the Texans may yet select one running back to take the majority of the carries, former 2018 Pro Bowl running back Phillip Lindsay says that his goal throughout offseason workouts has been to form cohesion with his fellow running backs.

“The closer we are with each other, then it’s going to feel more of a family,” Lindsay told reporters on a Zoom call on June 9. “I think we’re kind of building that right now. I think that when you first get here, everybody’s kind of on nails and stuff because you don’t really know about each other. Then when you kind of get here and start jelling with each other, working out with each other, you get that bond and that’s what you really need.”

Lindsay says that he admires David Johnson’s ability to be effective in the run game and also the passing game.

“David’s been in the league for a while and has had a lot of success at what he does, running and receiving,” Lindsay said “Really good dude off the field. I’ve never really talked to David until I got to Houston. The personality in him, he’s a positive dude and works his butt off. I think that he brings something different to the table than I do.”

Lindsay also values Mark Ingram for his locker room presence.

Said Lindsay: “Mark’s another one that’s been in the league forever. Mark has had a lot of success as well. Great person in the locker room. Very explosive. He’s a good one, like you said, to learn from.”

The 26-year-old from Denver, Colorado, isn’t putting stock in what “outsiders” have to say about the open competition. Instead, he is pouring his energy into uplifting his teammates.

“We’re going to make each other better so that when we all get our opportunity, which we will, we make the best of it for our family’s sake,” said Lindsay. “That’s what it comes down to.”