The forecast in Cleveland Sunday calls for 56 degrees, showers, and 28 mile-per-hour winds.
Just the perfect weather for a running back such as Duke Johnson to get plenty of carries.
The Houston Texans may have to rely on their reserve running back as they take on his old team, the Browns, at 12:00 p.m. CT at FirstEnergy Stadium. Though Johnson has been more of a complement to starter David Johnson, the former 2016 All-Pro appears to be out against Cleveland. If so, rain or shine, the Texans’ running game will rely on Duke Johnson.
“For me, it just depends because the whole week going up to Jacksonville, when we went to Jacksonville last week they was giving us rain, rain, rain,” Johnson said of the Texans’ 27-25 win over the Jaguars in Week 9. “Then we got there and it hardly rained. We just have to play it by ear.”
Johnson carried 16 times for 41 yards and a touchdown while also catching four passes for 32 yards.
“If it does rain, I’m pretty sure my workload will go up, which again, I prepare every week like I’m the starter,” Johnson said. “So, it shouldn’t be a big deal just going out there and taking care of the football and taking care of the team.”
Last season, Johnson started two games for Houston among his 16 played. In Week 7, inside the climate controlled Lucas Oil Stadium, Johnson had seven carries for 34 yards and two catches for 22 yards in a 30-23 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. In Week 14’s 38-24 loss to the Denver Broncos at NRG Stadium, Johnson had a carry for five yards and six catches for 40 yards.
Sunday will be Johnson’s first start in an outdoor venue since Week 8 of 2018 when he was with the Browns and they played the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field. Johnson carried twice for no gain and caught two passes for 16 yards.