In 2021, David Johnson will be returning for his second season with the Houston Texans. There is a strong possibility that he will reclaim his role as Houston’s starting running back come Week 1 of the regular season. But there will be stiff competition challenging Johnson for his role.
Texans’ first-year general manager Nick Caserio signed free agents Mark Ingram and Phillip Lindsay to improve Houston’s depth in the backfield — running backs who have put together Pro-Bowl worthy seasons long after Johnson’s All-Pro honors in 2016.
“I think it’ll make us all compete because we all want to play,” Johnson said during his Zoom conference on Monday. “Competition is going to make us all better and it’s going to start in the spring. I think with us competing against each other, trying to make each other better and we all trying to see the field, it’s going to make our team better, make our running game better and make our offense better.”
Both Ingram and Lindsay have eclipsed over 1,000 yards in rushing twice since 2016. After a career season four years ago, Johnson has yet to accomplish the feat again.
Last season, the Texans had arguably their worst run game in franchise history. Houston ended the season rushing for 1,466 total yards — the Texans’ worse since their inaugural season in 2002 (1,347).
With a backfield featuring Ingram, Johnson and Lindsay, the Texans will have an improved run game in 2021 regardless of the starter.
“I think it will help out a lot with this team, with the team morale and getting everyone going, especially with this run game,” Johnson said. “It was a tough running game last year and hopefully we can all, all three of us, can contribute and get this thing going.”