Devin Singletary earned the nickname “Motor” with the Buffalo Bills, and the running back could provide the same drive for the Houston Texans’ offense.
There is no doubt the Texans found success on the ground last year with rookie Dameon Pierce, who earned the “Angriest Run of the Year” for his efforts. However, there wasn’t hardly any depth behind Pierce, and it showed in the four final games the fourth-rounder was on injured reserve.
Enter Singletary, who is a conscious attempt to upgrade the running back stable.
Nick Wojton from the Bills Wire stopped by to provide a feel for Singletary’s game. Here is what the former 2019 third-round pick could bring to the Texans’ backfield.
What was Singletary's biggest strength last season?
Though his effort is a known commodity, Singletary’s skillset as a runner may not be known by fans in Houston who didn’t watch the Bills much over the last few seasons. Buffalo’s offense is known for its passing game led by quarterback Josh Allen and receiver Stefon Diggs, but Singletary held his own as the team’s primary threat on the ground.
“Singletary really proved his worth as quick, one-cut back,” Wojton said. “Even for his small size, he was never afraid to go up the middle and make defenders miss. Singletary doesn’t really have home run speed, but he’ll earn yards.”
The Texans desperately needed a back who could spell Pierce on long drives, and Singletary should prove to be more than capable of stepping in and gutting out tough runs. With his fearlessness between the tackles, he might be able to keep defenses honest on play action or break longer runs in short-yardage situations as he keeps his legs churning.
What role did Singletary play for Buffalo?
Though Singletary might not be a superstar, the running back got plenty of looks in Buffalo as the top rusher on their depth chart. Early in his tenure with the Bills, he even forced one of the best running backs in the league out of his role as the team’s bell cow.
“Singletary was essentially the [number one] rusher for most of his career in Buffalo,” Wojton said. “As a rookie, he made LeSean McCoy expendable, then usually would have the top number of touches each season (pending injury). That said, he never was an every-down back.
“The Bills typically would pair him with either a bigger teammate in the backfield or switch to having a complementary piece like James Cook who was known for his abilities as a receiver. Singletary is no slouch catching the ball, though. He improved that aspect of his game greatly in the pros.”
His use in the passing game is of particular note for Texans fans that hope their team selects a quarterback in the first round of the upcoming NFL draft. Singletary’s ability to be a safety valve out of the backfield on check-downs could make or break a young signal caller’s ability to drive downfield in key situations, especially against more capable defenses.
Could Singletary break out in 2023?
Houston needed immediate offense after their abysmal 2022 campaign, and may have found it in their signing of Singletary. While leading the league in rushing may out of the question, being one of the Texans’ breakout candidates is within the realm of possibility.
“Depending on your offensive line, Singletary could be,” Wojton said. “I’d be interested to see how he preforms in behind an above-average unit. Thanks to Josh Allen’s mobility, the Bills’ offensive line was always considered a decent group but they really weren’t anything to write home about.”
Singletary won’t have the benefit of an established quarterback or the volume of touches that he saw in Buffalo, but that shouldn’t stop him from putting together a productive year on the ground in 2023. Especially given the Texans’ investments in their offensive line in recent years, he should be able to find plenty of holes to run through when the regular season commences in September.
