HOUSTON (SportsRadio 610) -- The stats are not eye-popping.
Duke Johnson ran for a season-high 41 yards on 16 carries, just 2.6 yards per carry.
But he stepped up after starting running back David Johnson left in the first quarter of Sunday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars with a concussion.
The Texans capped a 12-play, 75-yard scoring drive with a touchdown run by Duke Johnson at the goal line in the second quarter to give Houston a 20-13 lead.
Even some of the runs that had little return seemed to be more for what Duke made out of it.
If the Texans have to go without David Johnson, expect Duke to get the bulk of the carries.
Relieving him won’t be quite as simple. The Texans could turn to Buddy Howell, who primarily plays on special teams, or they could look at the practice squad and waiver wire to provide depth at the position.
“I like Duke as a running back,” Crennel said Monday. “I like the fact that he was able to step in and get some tough yards. He stepped up and he blocked on protection. He can catch the ball out of the backfield. That’s why we had those two guys. They compliment each other. So if we don’t have David, then Duke will take the load and I think we’ll like what we see from him doing that job.”