2021 NFL Free Agency News: Houston Texans Sign Rex Burkhead

Your Houston Texans have added another veteran running back to the roster. Joining Mark Ingram, Phillip Lindsay, and David Johnson in Houston’s RB Room is Rex Burkhead, who has played eight seasons in the NFL for the Bengals and Patriots.

Burkhead is coming off a six touchdown, ten game campaign that saw him average 4.1 yards per carry and 7.7 yards per reception in 2020. Naturally, the initial overpowering instinct of some fans will be to decry Burkhead’s New England ties; I understand the sentiment. Without knowing the terms of Burkhead’s contract, however, I imagine this is a one-year, low risk deal with a team that is casting its net as wide as possible in the hopes of achieving some semblance of production from an impotent running attack.

There’s a reason the Texans now boast seven (7!) running backs on their current roster, and it’s not because the team finds itself knee deep in Arian Foster types. Relax. Take a deep breath. Death The NFL season comes for us all. Rex Burkhead may not even make Houston’s 53-man roster. If he does, it’ll be because the Texans think he’s a better option than several of the other veteran ball-carriers on the depth chart. Enjoy the ride.