There was a moment in Houston's Monday night game where running back Arian Foster was preparing to take the field. In the fourth quarter, the running back was starting to run in to replace Ben Tate . Instead, Tate cut Foster off and ran back into the huddle. Camera caught Foster taking his helmet off and saying a few words in a rather animated fashion. One of the top rushers in the league never wants to sit on the sidelines and was not too thrilled over his lack of playing time.
Foster missed the entire preseason due to calf and back injuries. Tate got the most work with the offense. Heading into the season, head coach Gary Kubiak intended to rotate the two backs in order to relieve Foster of the heavy workload. The result was Foster touching the ball 24 times against the San Diego Chargers. He put up 57 yards on 18 rushes. Tate carried the ball nine times for 55 yards.
"They're competitors, and they both want to be on the field," Kubiak said, via Houston Chronicle. "I understand that. I think that's a good thing for the team."
The head coach is downplaying any notion that Foster is unhappy with the team or Tate. He notes that Foster did not play the preseason while Tate looked strong in those games, allowing for him to see the field more. As the season carries on, he is certain Foster's workload will pick up.
Foster should benefit from the Tate rotation this year. While he is one of the Texans' best players, the heavy work load has led to several injuries. Houston is trying to prevent that by increasing Tate's time with the offense. While Foster may have short-term frustrations about not seeing the field on every play, it could pay off for a better season.
Over the past three seasons, Foster has been one of the most productive backs, putting up over 1,000 yards each year. However, last season he recorded a career-low 4.1 yards per carry as his rushing yards continue to drop. With Tate healthy and assisting Foster, he could see those numbers increase even if his number of touches decrease.
