It’s been hard for Carlos Hyde to get comfortable enough to want to unpack his bags this past year.
The veteran NFL running back has been on four different rosters since last season this time. He started out 2018 with the Browns then was traded to the Jaguars where he finished out the season before being released and signing with the Chiefs in March.
And then late last month, Hyde was traded to the Texans in exchange for offensive lineman Martinas Rankin. Hyde is starting to feel at home with the Texans.
“So far, so good,” he said about the transition his new team. “Things are definitely jelling. I am getting a better understanding of the offense and feeling comfortable in it.”
The Texans added both Duke Johnson and Hyde during the preseason to replace Pro Bowl running back Lamar Miller after he was lost for the season with a torn ACL. Both backs were needed to give the Texans a veteran presence in the backfield, but through the first three games Hyde has proven to be more of the workhorse.
Hyde, a former second-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers in 2014, and his hard-charging style of running leads the Texans with 192 yards and a touchdown and is averaging 4.8 yards per carry through the first three games. He scored his first rushing touchdown for the Texans during their 27-20 win over Jacksonville.
“Carlos is running hard, he’s running behind his pads, he’s breaking tackles, he’s doing a good job of finishing his runs,” said Texans offensive coordinator Tim Kelly.
He has given the Texans the versatile back they need, able to pick up the tough yards while also being a capable receiver out of the backfield. Hyde knows he can contribute in a major way to this offense and perhaps take some of the pressure off of quarterback Deshaun Watson.
“My style of play [is] running hard, running physical, getting the tough yards, explosive gains, getting us to the red zone and when we do get there, score touchdowns,” said Hyde, who has 27 career rushing touchdowns. “If we’re scoring touchdowns, then we’ve got a good chance of winning.”
