HOUSTON – In spots, in brief flashes, in moments where there was a pathway cleared by blockers, the Texans’ running game delivered a solid performance against the Los Angeles Rams’ stout defense.
The primary force on the ground: four-time Pro Bowl running back Nick Chubb, the replacement for injured starter Joe Mixon.
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There weren’t a lot of bright spots for the Texans to take away from a mostly sputtering offense during a 14-9 road loss at SoFi Stadium. One of the only successful strategies was handing the football off to Chubb. In his debut for the Texans, he rushed for 60 yards on 13 carries for an average of 4.6 yards per run. His longest run was 13 yards.
The idea that Chubb and the Texans offense could build on the running game isn’t illogical. Even perhaps Monday night at NRG Stadium against a hard-nosed Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense that held Atlanta Falcons star running back Bijan Robinson to 24 rushing yards on 12 carries in a win a week ago.
Chubb rushed for 31 yards on seven carries by halftime. In the second half, he had six carries for 29 more yards.
“I don’t know that I ever thought in my mind that we were going away from the run game,” Texans offensive coordinator Nick Caley said. “In the second half, we were sticking in runs, and he was ripping it off.
“Nick Chubb gets stronger as the game goes on. So, I don’t think there was any decision to that. I think, if anything, kind of stuck some more of those runs in there down the second half, got some efficient runs off and kind of gave us momentum down there, down the stretch.”
Nonetheless, the Texans failed to score a touchdown and went 0 for 1 in the red zone as they settled for three field goals from kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn for all of their scoring.
The third all-time leading rusher in Browns franchise history behind Hall of Fame backs Jim Brown and Leroy Kelly, Chubb appears to have regained his health and some measure of his old form.
Perhaps he just needs more opportunities. Chubb has traditionally been the kind of runner who gets better with an increased workload.
“That’s always the plan to get better as the season goes on, as weeks go by,” Chubb said. “We had a great week of practice, so looking forward to going out there Monday night. I think as the game goes on, every running back is getting a better rhythm. As the game goes on, it only gets stronger. So, I’m here for that.”
Chubb was the primary running threat for the Texans, other than quarterback C.J. Stroud scrambling for 32 yards on nine carries.
Backup running back Dameon Pierce looked rusty and missed an obvious blitz pickup. He gained five yards on three carries. Dare Ogunbowale rushed for nine yards on two carries and caught two passes for 17 yards, but his late fumble cost the Texans a chance to win the game.
“At the end of the day, we didn’t win the game,” Chubb said when asked about the Texans rushing for 114 yards on 27 runs. “So, that’s all that matters to me and this team just to win, whatever that looks like. So, I would love to get a win this week.
"It’s probably the biggest lesson, so take advantage of our defense being so good. Score some points for them and help them out a lot. I think, offense, I think we hurt us not scoring a touchdown in that game. Looking forward to going out this week and improving in that area."
Upgrading the run and expanding on what worked against Los Angeles could be a tall order for the Texans, even with right guard Ed Ingram back from an abdomen injury and Tytus Howard going back to right tackle and Aireontae Ersery to left tackle.
The Buccaneers’ defense is headlined by massive nose tackle Vita Vea and experienced linebacker Lavonte David.
“They’re a really good defense up front,” Chubb said. " Those guys up front play hard, stout, tough, very physical. It’s a challenge for us and we look forward to it.
Chubb endured a painful knee injury two years ago against the Pittsburgh Steelers, a torn medial collateral ligament and sustained damage to his anterior cruciate ligament.
He made a comeback with the Browns.
Just when he was gaining traction again a year ago, he broke his foot against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Now, the 29-year-old former Georgia star is regaining his footing with the Texans in a pivotal role. He’s the Texans’ new RB1 after signing a one-year, $5 million maximum value in the spring as the primary replacement for Mixon.
His arrival coincided with Mixon being in a protective walking boot in the spring. Mixon is on the non-football injury list with an injury described as “tough and complicated” that has involved nonsurgical procedures away from the team. While he is out for at least the first four weeks under NFL rules, the reality is that Mixon could miss a significantly longer portion of the season, if not the entire season.
That means that the Texans will lean heavily on Chubb as the centerpiece of their revamped running game behind an overhauled offensive line with four newcomers starter and Howard, back to right tackle, the only returning starter from last season.
“We’re rolling with the guys that are here,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “That’s the main thing. We miss Joe, miss his energy and his enthusiasm and everything that he brought to our team. But we continue to press forward and hope he’s doing well.”
Chubb declared himself ready to contribute and lead for his team.
“I’m here to do whatever I need to do for this team, for this city,” Chubb said. “Whatever is called of me, I’m excited to go out there and give it my all.”
Chubb has rushed for 6,843 yards and 51 touchdowns, but dipped to a career-low 3.3 average per run last season. Prior to that, he averaged 6.1, 5.0, 5.5, 5.6, 5.0 and 5.2 yards in his previous six NFL seasons. Limited to 10 games over the past two seasons and a combined 502 yards and three touchdowns, Chubb has attacked this new opportunity with enthusiasm. Even as an accomplished runner, the emotions are still there for Chubb.
Chubb got off to a somewhat slow start at training camp as far as not looking as explosive as he did in the past. Some of that may have been attributable to rust. Some of it to learning a new offense and getting acclimated to new surroundings. As the preseason went on, he looked much more comfortable. He rushed for 25 yards on just five runs against the Carolina Panthers and was decisive and powerful and quick.
“I definitely get excited, I feel like the nerves are part of it,” Chubb said. “We’ve worked hard all offseason and all throughout camp. Now it’s time to go out there and put it together. There’s definitely nerves, but overall, just excited to be here.”
Ryans was glad to see the progress from a running back with a definite downhill style running behind his shoulder pads.
“Chubb, from the first day he got here until now, I’ve seen him just continue to grow and get better,” Ryans said. “You see him get into football shape, and I see him look better and better each week. Especially once we put the pads on, it’s like, ‘Wow, this is the Chubb that I remember.’ Physical downhill player. You see him popping some runs. He still has the explosion, the speed that it takes to make plays in this league. The guy just understands football. Very smart player. Playmaker.”
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com