Texans’ Dameon Pierce emerging as productive RB in AFC
Although the Houston Texans (0-3-1) are the only team without a win this season, one bright spot that stands out is the play of rookie running back Dameon Pierce, who the Texans selected with the 107th pick in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft out of Florida.
After his monster performance against the Los Angeles Chargers, he rushed for 131 yards on 14 carries, which included a 75-yard run touchdown run to the end zone in the second quarter. Pierce has 313 yards on the season, which currently ranks him tenth in the NFL.
His total rushing yards also ranks him fifth in the AFC and second in the AFC South behind reigning 2021 NFL Rushing Leader Jonathan Taylor of the Indianapolis Colts, who has 328 yards.
“Shout out to the ‘Big Five,’” said Pierce after the game on Sunday about his offensive lineman. “I ain’t nothing without them.”
On Sunday, he finished the game averaging 9.4 yards per carry, which was the most by a Texans running back David Johnson averaged 10.67 yards per rush against the Cincinnati Bengals in December 2020. His 75-yard run is the longest by an NFL rookie since Dolphins RB Kalen Ballage recorded a 75-yard touchdown rush at Minnesota in Week 15 of 2018.
Pierce has seen his production pick up weekly as he gets acclimated to more carries. In Week 3 against the Chicago Bears, he rushed for 80 yards on 20 rushes and got his first NFL career touchdown on a one-yard run.
With the upcoming divisional game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, whose run defense ranks eighth in the NFL in rush defense at 93.8 yards per game; Pierce will need to see more carries, especially late in the game.
