Dameon Pierce has a reputation for being a bruiser.
Through 13 games of Pierce’s rookie season, the Houston Texans’ fourth-rounder picked up the NFL’s “Angriest Run of the Year” at the 2022 NFL Honors in February. Punishing running backs are picking up those type of runs, not elusive runners.
However, new Texans running back Devin Singletary believes that Pierce has more diversity to his running style than meets the eye.
“Yeah, a lot of guys like to look at Dameon as a bruiser, but I feel like he’s more than that,” Singletary told reporters June 14 after mandatory minicamp. “Make guys miss, he definitely can catch out of the backfield.”
The Texans signed Singletary to a one-year, $3.75 million deal in free agency to provide an effective complement to Pierce. The former Buffalo Bills 2019 third-rounder is willing to play towards that perception of being the shiftier running back.
“For me and him, I feel like some would say I’m shifty or whatever, that’s my game, but I feel like I can do it all as well,” said Singletary. “So, with that being said, it’s just us feeding off of each other’s energy.”
Singletary generated 672 carries for 3,151 yards and 16 touchdowns in his 61 games for Buffalo.
In Houston, Singletary believes partnering with Pierce and learning how to read one another’s cues will help improve the Texans’ rushing attack.
Said Singletary: “I feel like that’s what it’s going to come down to throughout the season, us feeding off each other’s energy, picking each other’s brains, finding ways to get better, and I think that’s the biggest thing.”
Pierce finished with 220 carries for 939 yards and four touchdowns. The former Florida product had the third-most rushing yards of any rookie last season.
