The most productive member of the Houston Texans offense has undoubtedly been running back Dameon Pierce.
The fourth-rounder from Florida has tallied 939 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 220 attempts while also catching 30 passes for 165 yards and a score. Pierce is the only skill player approaching 1,000 yards in either receiving or rushing, and his five total touchdowns are the most on the team.
The Texans have a storm cloud hanging over them as Pierce in a walking boot following Houston’s 27-23 loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 14
Coach Lovie Smith gave an update on Pierce on Dec. 12.
“He has an ankle injury that kept him out,” Smith said. “He didn’t finish the game. That’s always concerning when a player didn’t finish the game. It will take an awful lot for him not to play, but if it’s an injury, of course it can. Hopefully it’s short-term. We’ll see.”
Pierce sustained the ankle injury early in the fourth quarter and was questionable to return. On the Texans’ second-to-last drive, which began as a first-and-goal from the Cowboys’ 4-yard line, Pierce was unable to go and Houston went with two carries to Rex Burkhead — minus-1 on first down and minus-2 on third down — before going four-and-out. A touchdown would have put Houston up 30-20 over Dallas with a little over three minutes left in the game.
If Pierce is unable to go against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 15, offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton will have to deploy more than a two-quarterback offense to get the run game going.