The Houston Texans will open their preseason on the road against the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday. It's an exciting time for Texans fans because it means the NFL regular season is right around the corner; however, any excitement for the new campaign could be quickly wiped out if Houston's backfield situation doesn't improve.
With RB1 Joe Mixon missing time with a foot injury, the Texans' backfield has been in disarray. Free-agent signing Nick Chubb has failed to impress head coach DeMeco Ryans & Co., while the likes of Dare Ogunbowale, British Brooks, Jawhar Jordan, J.J. Taylor, and Woody Marks haven't exactly successfully stood out from the pack, leaving Houston fans to feel less than confident in the team's RB situation.
It's safe to say the Texans' backfield could use a boost, which is exactly what it'll get if a returning veteran RB capitalizes on his latest opportunity.
Texans RB Dameon Pierce Must Capitalize on Return to Training Camp
Veteran RB Dameon Pierce is a name that Texans fans haven't heard much of this summer. The former 2022 fourth-round pick began training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list; however, he was activated from the PUP list and returned to practice on Tuesday after passing Monday's physical, according to the Houston Chronicle's Sam Warren.
#Texans RB Dameon Pierce has passed a physical, according to Monday’s transaction wire.
— Sam Warren (@samwarren_3) August 5, 2025
He’ll come off the team’s PUP list and should practice on Tuesday.
Shortly after his initial report, Warren added that Pierce was spotted fully-padded once practice began, which is likely good news for his prospects of playing in Saturday's showdown.
Now that he's back on the gridiron, Pierce can't afford to let this golden opportunity slip through his hands. Mixon's injury has left the door wide open for the Texans' secondary RBs to steal some touches, and successfully capitalizing on his backfield-mate's absence is Pierce's best bet at opening the 2025 with a significant role.
Drafted 107th overall by the Texans just over three years ago, Pierce began his NFL career in a starting role. He started in all 13 of his rookie-season appearances, and went on to convert 220 carries into 939 rushing yards and 30 receptions into 165 receiving yards, all while scoring five total touchdowns.
Although 1,104 scrimmage yards isn't anything to sneeze at, Pierce's four fumbles as a rookie left the Texans wanting to inject more experience into their backfield. That's why they brought in Devin Singletary for the 2023 campaign before signing Mixon to a three-year deal last offseason. The back-to-back veteran additions caused Pierce's chances to crater, resulting in only 200 touches for 812 scrimmage yards and four TDs in 25 games (7 starts) across the last two seasons.
Pierce's stock has taken a hit during that stretch, making it even more crucial for him to step up this summer. The ex-Florida Gator will also become a free agent at the end of the 2025 season, and a strong showing, even as an RB2, could make the difference when it's time to get paid in March. He'll have to stay healthy, though, as he's already missed 13 games in three seasons to begin his NFL career.
A strong run game is crucial for any team's offensive success, which is why the Texans are not only counting on Pierce to step up for himself, but for the team as a whole.