The Houston Texans will host free agent Pierre Thomas for a visit after losing Arian Foster to a groin injury in training camp and it comes after the Saints released Thomas earlier in the offseason and he could be an option to step in with Foster likely out for a lengthy stretch.
The Texans were set to rely on Foster a great deal this season and now Thomas could be a free agent fit for the team. According to NFL.com, Thomas is coming in for a visit with the Texans and he is among the notable names available on the market. Players like Steven Jackson, Ben Tate, Felix Jones and Ray Rice are also available at running back.
Thomas is a dual threat player and can be a solid receiver out of the backfield after averaging in 2014 while averaging over eight yards per catch. Thomas rushed for 222 yards last season for the Saints, the lowest total in his career and he also put up 45 catches for 378 yards.
Check here for more on the Texans interest in Thomas.
Arian Foster is one of the top running backs in fantasy football and now the Houston Texans will be without their star for a while after Foster suffered a groin injury and if he undergoes surgery he could miss a chunk of the season and that makes players like Alfred Blue, Jonathan Grimes, Chris Polk and Kenny Hilliard draft replacement options for Foster.
Foster reportedly will need surgery after suffering a groin injury in training camp and it comes after Foster dealt with a similar injury last year. According to the Houston Chronicle, John McClain reports that Foster "will require surgery" for the injury and while he will be out for a long stretch, he could return this season. Foster potentially could miss up to nine games this season if he is placed on the injured reserve/designated for return list heading out of the preseason.
The Texans may wait and see how surgery goes before deciding on how to deal with Foster and after the procedure a timetable for his return will be clear. Foster missed three games last season with a groin injury and Blue started in his place and now he could get that chance again. Head coach Bill O'Brien has not named a starting quarterback between Brian Hoyer and Ryan Mallett yet and now that choice will be even more important with Foster out.
The team was expected to lean heavily on Foster this season and now players like DeAndre Hopkins, Blue and Cecil Shorts will have to step up. The Texans have a bye in Week 9 of the season and that means Foster could be out until Week 10 if he is placed on the IR return list. Polk could be a sleeper option after being picked up from the Eagles, as he has shown some flashes in limited playing time in Philadelphia.
Last season Polk had 172 yards in 14 games for the Eagles and four touchdowns and the previous season he scored three times in just 11 carries. Polk could be a solid option to clean things up at the end of drives and he could be a handcuff with Alfred Blue for Foster. Blue now is a top draft option until O'Brien says otherwise, as he likely will be the starter with Foster out. Last season Blue showed some solid potential while rushing for 528 yards and he played in all 16 games for Houston.
Grimes also could be a solid option and he comes in after rushing 39 times last season for 153 yards. Grimes has limited experience, but any of the backs could step in camp and prove worthy for some carries. Hoyer and Mallett are solid players, but nothing special and that could put some pressure on the rushing game with Foster out. The Texans are on "Hard Knocks" this season on HBO and with the quarterback battle still unsettled, things should be very interesting.
Check here for more on Arian Foster and his injury for the Texans.