The Houston Texans will open their 2019 regular season with two new running backs in Duke Johnson and Carlos Hyde. After losing Lamar Miller to a season-ending knee injury in the preseason, the Texans made moves to fortify their backfield by acquiring Hyde in a trade with Kansas City.
"Carlos, I think, is a solid first-, second-down runner, can help you in the passing game," head coach Bill O'Brien said Monday. "I think there's a number of things he can do. I think that he's got good size relative to that position and he's had production in the past."
Hyde, selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft, has rushed for 3,300 yards and scored 26 touchdowns in 43 starts. Last year, he started five games for the Cleveland Browns before being traded to Jacksonville on Oct. 19.
"I think that he's had a good career and we were glad to be able to add him here," O'Brien said. "Obviously, losing Lamar (Miller), hard to replace Lamar, we're not trying to do that, we're just trying to add depth to that position and we think Carlos can possibly do that."
The 6-0, 229-pound back will be used differently than Duke Johnson in the running and passing game. Johnson, who came via trade with Cleveland prior to Miller's injury, has accumulated more receiving yards (2,170) and touchdowns (8) than rushing yards (1,286) and touchdowns (5). This season, the Texans hope to capitalize on the differences in their backfield.
"Two totally different players, so I really don't want to get into the details of that but definitely different players," O'Brien said.
In addition to Hyde and Johnson, the Texans also have nine-year veteran back Taiwan Jones and second-year special teams contributor and running back Buddy Howell on the 53-man roster.
The Texans open their 2019 season at New Orleans on Monday Night Football. Kickoff is set for 6:10 p.m. CT on ESPN and SportsRadio 610.
