The Houston Texans brought in third-year running back Eno Benjamin vis waiver claim this week, and the team is already looking forward to getting him involved in the offense. In the team’s media availability session following Wednesday’s practice, quarterback Davis Mills addressed Benjamin’s arrival, and made it clear that the running back would be a welcome addition to his unit.
“I’m excited for him,” Mills told reporters on Wednesday. “I think he’s going to be here for practice tomorrow. He’s another really talented player to add to that running back room. I heard he’s a really good pass catcher out of the backfield as well, so just excited for another way to attack defenses and switch up the looks.”
Mills’ excitement is certainly understandable, as the move to claim Benjamin was a clear indication that the Texans intend to lean into their run-first mentality by beefing up their backfield with another capable ball carrier. Rookie sensation Dameon Pierce won’t see his workload dwindle with the signing, but Houston’s new insurance policy on his production is sure to pay dividends later in the season should injuries become a concern.
For now, the Texans are still likely to be grasping at straws for legitimate offensive production outside of the contributions of Pierce. Mills has been wildly inconsistent with his work in the pocket this season, and even with receiver Brandin Cooks’ drama at a low simmer following the team’s decision to strip him of his captainship, it seems that more dysfunction is inevitable relative to Houston’s air attack.
Benjamin will serve as a low-risk high-reward prospect whose experience should serve the Texans well in the short and medium terms. Whether he has the potential to develop into a true spell back to form a dangerous one-two punch with Pierce is unknown, but Houston needs all the depth they can get to help secure the team’s second win of the season before their 17-game schedule draws to a close.
