The Houston Texans claimed talented running back Eno Benjamin off waivers by way of the Arizona Cardinals on Tuesday, adding even more depth to their burgeoning backfield led by rookie star Dameon Pierce. Their running game has been a major strength for the team so far in 2022 and can be considered one of the best in the NFL with Pierce ranking among the top 10 in rushing yards through nine games.
Benjamin will be hard-pressed to find a significant workload with the Texans, but too much depth is never an issue for any team at the midway point in the season. He has found success in limited action since entering the league as a seventh-round pick in the 2020 draft.
Though he hasn’t lived up to the hype that built around him following a storied career at Arizona State, he has shown the same burst at the pro level that made him a star for the Sun Devils in college. Standing just five-foot-nine inches tall, Benjamin is an elusive back with the ability to find even the smallest holes made by an offensive line and though he might not be a track star, has enough speed to fight for the edge on every play.
He comes into a tumultuous situation in Houston where the 1-7-1 Texans are grasping at straws to jumpstart their floundering offense. Benjamin is unlikely to be activated against the Washington Commanders unless he shows signs of brilliance in practice this week that would warrant his inclusion in the gameday roster ahead of Rex Burkhead and Dare Ogunbowale on the depth chart.
Though this move is hardly a blockbuster acquisition that would help the Texans compete in a meaningful way in the short term, Benjamin’s addition is a clear sign that Houston is leaning into their tendency to favor the run amid mounting speculation of a potential quarterback change in the coming weeks.