While the Houston Texans sent a clear message to their running back room with the selection of Woody Marks in the 2025 NFL Draft, that move didn't seal Dameon Pierce's fate like some fans seem to have believed. The veteran still retained a real shot to enter the year backing up Joe Mixon as the Texans' RB2. It was just going to take a strong performance at OTAs for Pierce to save his job.
Pierce, apparently, has other plans. Wednesday is the first day of Texans OTAs that have been open to the press, and Pierce seems to have sealed his departure from Houston already.
Dameon Pierce's OTA Absence Could Solidify Texans Departure
Pierce was not on the field for the Texans' OTA practice on Wednesday. This was in injury-related absence, and while you certainly can't hold that against him, it doesn't help his circumstances much. We've seen time and time again that NFL coaches have no sympathy for injuries.
At the end of the day, whatever the reason for his absence, he's not getting his chance to prove himself on the field. And with Mixon not practicing either, the opportunity to earn first-team reps and plenty of looks from the coaching staff is an incredibly valuable one.
This is undoubtedly a frustrating spot for Pierce, because the door really is open for him to retain his spot as the second RB on the depth chart in 2025. But that door is rapidly closing, even though the Texans' backfield isn't as deep as it may seem.
Pierce Doesn't Have Much Competition, But He Has Enough
The Texans enter OTAs with six tailbacks and two fullbacks on the roster. That makes the backfield seem hugely crowded, but it's not like he's competing with the whole group for his job. Here's a quick rundown of the other backs:
- Joe Mixon: RB1
- Dare Ogunbowale: passing-down back, not an every-down RB2 option
- J.J. Taylor: Fringe roster spot, special teamer
- Jawhar Jordan: Fringe roster spot, special teamer, practice squad candidate
- British Brooks: Fullback
- Jakob Johnson: Fullback
- Woody Marks: Rookie (and Pierce's top competition)
Really, Pierce is in a one-on-one battle with Marks. NFL coaches tend to favor veterans over rookies this early in the offseason, which would give Pierce the inside track to beat out the unproven fourth-round pick. Instead, Marks is getting an early chance to jump up the depth chart.
What About Pierce's Trade Value?
Texans fans seem to be hopeful that Pierce being expendable is an extra win for the team — that he can be shipped off somewhere else in a trade that will net the Texans a little extra benefit. But how realistic is that?
Consider that the Texans were just involved in one of the NFL's most recent running back trades back in October 2024 — a deal that saw Cam Akers and a seventh-round pick net only a sixth-rounder in return. The only two RB trades pulled off around the league since then don't show any more value given to the position:
- Minnesota Vikings acquire Jordan Mason and a sixth-round pick for a fifth- and sixth-round pick from the San Francisco 49ers (Mar 15, 2025)
- Cincinnati Bengals acquire Khalil Herbert for a seventh-round pick from the Chicago Bears
Pierce is entering the final year of his rookie contract. He's dealt with injuries in each of his first three NFL seasons and is now already banged up this offseason. Teams around the league know that he's a cut candidate if the Texans can't find a trade partner.
If the Texans can find a willing trade partner at all (far from a given), they won't be getting much back for Pierce.
The best scenario for Houston is still that Pierce can prove he still has what it takes to be a viable rotational piece of this backfield depth. And that will have to start with getting back on the field.