WHEN THE TEXANS RUN

The Texans won’t keep all five backs active, but it’ll be interesting to see which three they use against the Jaguars, who finished 30th against the run last season. This is a running game that ranked 31st in 2020. As coach David Culley said, it’s a running back-by-committee approach. Mark Ingram II is the starter. He’s a between-the-tackles runner. David Johnson, who led the team in rushing last season with 691 yards and six touchdowns, is also an excellent receiver. Phillip Lindsay is the smallest but likes to run between the tackles. Expect quarterback Tyrod Taylor to contribute to the running game after rushing only once in the preseason. Of the offensive linemen, only left tackle Laremy Tunsil is starting at the same position as last season. The linemen love the new emphasis on running the ball more than 2020 when they had the fewest carries in team history. They get a chance to fire off the ball and be physical rather than retreating in pass protection as they did so often last season. The line sets the tone for the running game, and if it bogs down and they have to pass, fans will see how much their pass protection has improved.