The Houston Texans could look at Pierre Thomas, Chris Johnson, Ray Rice, Steven Jackson, Ben Tate and Felix Jones as potential free agent options to add some depth behind Alfred Blue, Jonathan Grimes and Chris Polk after the injury to Arian Foster and it comes as the running back will likely be out until around Thanksgiving.
The Texans are coming into the season with high expectations and now the team will have to find a way to make up for the loss of Foster. The running back injured his groin last week and underwent surgery and reports have him starting the season on the injured reserve designated to return list. If Foster is placed on that list, he will not be eligible to return until the middle of the season. The Texans reportedly were close to a deal with Pierre Thomas to sign a free agent deal, but Thomas passed after the Texans offer was too low.
The Houston Chronicle reports that Thomas could be an option down the line if the Texans don't add another running back soon. Thomas reportedly turned down a veteran's minimum deal with Houston and the Texans are okay for the moment, as head coach Bill O'Brien said that he likes the depth the team has at the position. O'Brien added that if the team brings in a running back the team wants one that can do a little of "everything" and that makes Thomas a solid fit. Thomas can help make up for the strong receiving skills of Foster and he is also a solid runner between the tackles.
Thomas comes in after rushing for just 222 yards last season with the Saints, but he put up 45 catches and 378 receiving yards out of the backfield. Just a couple years ago Thomas put up over 1000 total yards and 77 receptions and if he ends up signing with the Texans, he could be a good option to help make up for Foster's loss. Blue played well in Foster's absence last season and the Texans look ready to at least give him a chance to be the number one RB.
The Texans likely will use a running back by committee, as Blue does not have much experience after being a rookie last year. Grimes and Polk give the team solid depth and there are free agents available that could help the Texans. According to Pro Football Talk, the team worked out Joe McKnight and Ben Malena along with Thomas and the Texans also could look at Steven Jackson, Ben Tate or even Ray Rice as options. Rice has been looking to get a new job in the NFL, but so far teams have been unwilling to sign him.
The Texans are hoping that Foster's injury is not too serious and that he can return sooner than what was first projected. According to the Houston Chronicle, there is "growing optimism" that Foster could be out for just over a month following surgery, with 4-to-6 weeks as a potential timetable. The report says that the surgery was a sports-hernia operation and that could make it a bit easier to come back from than a groin injury. The Texans have time to decide about putting Foster on IR with a designation to return and if they don't, he can return to the team when healthy but would have to take up a roster spot.
