Hyde would like to run in place next season
Texans running back Carlos Hyde’s running style has mirrored the way he’s bounced around the NFL.
The powerful running back has run through arm tackles all season for a career-high 1,070 rushing yards with six touchdowns and his second-highest average per carry. He’s been a vital part of the offense.
Traded from the Browns to the Jaguars last year, then from the Chiefs to the Texans before this season in exchange for lineman Martinas Rankin, Hyde has made a convincing argument to earn a new contract.
Hyde, 29, would like nothing more than to re-sign with the Texans as his one-year, $2.8 million contract expires after this season. The interest is mutual between Hyde and the Texans with no deal imminent at this time, according to league sources not authorized to speak publicly.
“I hope they give me an extension here,” Hyde said. “I definitely would like to be here. I feel like I showed I want to be here, not just the way I play, but the way I carry myself throughout the building.
“Hopefully, I’ve done enough. I’ve been on like four teams in the last year. Hopefully, I make it work here.”
The trade for Hyde has paid immediate dividends for the Texans’ running game.
“Carlos came in here and did a good job learning the offense, really like the way he runs,” Texans coach Bill O’Brien said. “He runs behind his pads. He’s good in the passing game and he’s a good teammate. He works hard every day and he’s a really good guy to have on the team.”
Hyde has grown accustomed to changes of scenery. The way he’s excelled this season has made him hungry for a longer future with the Texans.
“It’s been really good for me,” Hyde said. “I like it a lot here. I’ve had my best season here, the most wins I’ve had in a season, my first time making the playoffs. I would love to stay here.”
Fuller ‘progressing,’ but status unclear
The Texans are holding out hope that wide receiver Will Fuller (groin) could return for their Saturday AFC wild-card playoff game against the Bills.
If Fuller can’t go this week, he could be available for a divisional-round game should the Texans advance past the Bills.
“I think he’s progressing,” coach Bill O’Brien said. “We’ll know better as the week goes on.”
Overall, the Texans are relatively healthy. They held out several key starters against Tennessee, including quarterback Deshaun Watson (back), wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (illness), cornerback Bradley Roby (hamstring) and offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil (ankle). All are back for the Bills game.
“For this time of year, probably about as good as you can be,” O’Brien said. “I think for this time of the year, we’re in decent shape.”
Better run defense a priority vs. Bills
After allowing Tennessee’s Derrick Henry to rush for 211 yards and three touchdowns on Sunday, the Texans’ run defense is heading in the wrong direction.
The Texans, who rested several starters against Tennessee, rank 25th in rushing defense, allowing 121.1 rushing yards per contest. The trend has been negative, surrendering an average of 171.3 rushing yards per game over the past three games despite the presence of inside linebacker Zach Cunningham, the leading tackler in the AFC with 137 stops.
The pending return of threetime NFL Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt from a torn pectoral could change the situation for the Texans.
“We have to do a better job of setting the edge and building a wall tackling,” Bill O’Brien said. “That’s going to be a big point of emphasis this week. We’ve got to be able to do that. We’ve done a good job of that at times throughout the year, most of the time, but over the last few games, it’s been inconsistent. It hasn’t been as good as it needs to be, so we have to have a good week of that.”
The Texans will need to upgrade their run-stopping against the Bills. They rank eighth in rushing offense, averaging 128.4 yards per game.
The Bills have two capable running backs in rookie Devin Singletary (775 yards) and veteran Frank Gore (599 yards) and a dual-threat quarterback in Josh Allen (510 yards and nine touchdown runs.)
“He’s just playing really well,” O’Brien said of Allen. “He makes good decisions with the ball. He’s very well-coached.
“He can run. He’s a very athletic guy, he’s got good speed. This is a guy that is a very dangerous guy.”