A number of players first-year general manager Nick Caserio signed to one-year contracts this spring will likely move on from the Houston Texans following the 2021 season. However, Phillip Lindsay is the one free agent acquisition who has the best opportunity to fit within the Texans’ long-term plans.
As he prepares to live outside of Colorado for the first time in his career, here is a look into the impact Lindsay can have on the Texans next season.
Rundown
(Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
Position: Running Back Age: 26 Height: 5-8 Weight: 190 lbs Hometown: Denver, Colo. High School: Denver South (Colorado) College: Colorado Draft: Undrafted Acquired: 2021 free agency
Profile
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Before the start of the 2020 season, Lindsay was in consideration as one of the league’s best young running backs. After signing with the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2018, Lindsay recorded 2,048 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns while appearing in 31 out of a possible 32 games for his hometown team. By the end of the year, the potential Lindsay showcased during his first two years in the NFL had vanished. He missed five games due to injuries and sharing the backfield with Melvin Gordon resulted in Lindsay rushing for a career-low 502 yards. Lindsay is still a promising stud who has the potential to establish himself as a franchise’s starting running back for multiple seasons. The only thing the 26-year-old running back need is an opportunity to prove his capabilities, and Houston could be the best-case scenario for Lindsay. Although he is joining a crowded backfield that features David Johnson and Mark Ingram, Lindsay has the best chance to be held as the Texans’ starting running back by Week 1 of the regular season. Lindsay is the youngest out of the three tailbacks, and it’s apt to believe the Texans will likely convert to a contingency plan after the subpar run game showcased last season with Johnson as Houston’s starter. With Deshaun Watson no longer under center, there is a great chance the Texans will rely heavily upon their run game in 2021. And Lindsay is arguably the Texans’ best and most productive running back they have on their roster.
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