Change benefits RB Johnson
When the Texans hammered out an August trade with the Browns for Duke Johnson, the veteran running back was fairly certain this was going to be a positive development for his career.
Johnson was buried on the depth chart in Cleveland behind Nick Chubb despite his skill as a versatile pass-catching back.
The Texans sent a conditional 2020 fourth-round pick to Cleveland that is now a third-rounder because Johnson has been active for at least 10 games.
Johnson is enjoying being on a winning team after years of losing with the Browns.
“Coming in, I kind of figured it would be a good change of scenery,” Johnson said. “Even when I wasn’t as heavily involved in the offense as I am now, it was still a good fit for me: winning, feeling good, having fun, just enjoying it.”
Johnson had a seasonhigh 14 touches against the Patriots last Sunday for a combined 90 yards on nine carries for 36 yards and five receptions for 54 yards and one touchdown on six targets.
For the season, Johnson has rushed for 385 yards with an average of 5.2 yards per carry. He has 30 receptions for 294 yards and three touchdowns on 41 targets.
Although Johnson isn’t the primary back, he’s formed a strong tandem with Carlos Hyde. By not having a ton of touches, Johnson has stayed healthy and fresh for the Texans’ stretch run.
“That was always the plan,” Johnson said. “Just trying to figure out the best ways to use me and what’s best for the offense, trying to take the opportunity whenever it presents itself. That’s the most important thing with our goals and aspirations to play postseason football.”
Deshaun Watson has a reliable option throwing to Johnson.
“It’s very big,” Watson said of Johnson. “He’s a guy that can run the ball, catch the ball. He can do it all. So, he’s a guy that’s really a receiver playing running back, and he can do a lot of different things that can help us.”
Fells provides a big target
Tight end Darren Fells has surpassed the franchise record for touchdowns in a single season with seven scores.
The veteran arrived in Houston in the spring via a one-year, $1.5 million contract and emerged as a starter.
At 6-7 and 270 pounds, Fells is a big red-zone target who’s tied for the NFL lead with the Ravens’
Mark Andrews for the most touchdowns by a tight end.
Fells passed Owen Daniels and Joel Dreessen for the most touchdowns by a tight end in a single season in Texans franchise history.
Fells is the only player in the league with at least seven touchdowns on less than 50 targets. He’s the only player with more than 10 touchdowns (13 overall) on less than 100 targets since 2017.
“It makes my job a lot easier,” quarterback Deshaun Watson said of having Fells, a former pro basketball player, to throw to downfield. “He’s a basketball guy, big hands, and just a guy that’s been working his tail off ever since he got here. He’s a great teammate, great person and he just loves to work, he loves to win, he loves to have fun and just hearing his story and where he comes from and the way he got here, it’s very special.”
Howell, Mingo receive fines
Texans running back Buddy Howell has been fined $28,075 by the NFL for a an illegal blindside block on a punt return, according to a league source not authorized to speak publicly.
Howell plans to appeal the fine.
Howell was penalized for the block in the second quarter against the Patriots. Howell is one of the Texans’ top special-teams contributors.
Meanwhile, linebacker Barkevious Mingo was fined $10,527 by the league for unnecessary roughness. Mingo also plans to appeal the NFL punishment.
Mingo was penalized in the first quarter following a play during which wide receiver Julian Edelman was tackled for a loss by safety Tashaun Gipson.