It was a long 24 hours for Texans running back Scottie Phillips, waiting to find out if would make the 53-man roster.
Phillips was undrafted last year out of Mississippi and signed with the Texans as a free agent.
In training camp, Phillips competed with a long list of seasoned backs - Mark Ingram, David Johnson, Rex Burkhead and Phillip Lindsay.
His spot on the roster was far from a guarantee.
All five of them are on the initial 53-man roster.
Phillips had been communicating with his agent leading up to Tuesday's roster cuts. But somehow his fiancée, who they just announced is expecting, scooped him.
"I don't know how she found out, but she's the one that told me," Phillips said Wednesday.
His role on the team is still unclear.
Texans general manager Nick Caserio also spoke Wednesday about strength in numbers from the active roster to the practice squad, and stressed fluidity.
The Texans want to run the ball.
They did not do it as well as hoped in the preseason. But Phillips may have been their most impressive runner.
He made the most of his first run in Saturday's preseason finale against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with this 24-yard run in the third quarter.
"I prepare like I'm the starter, just stay ready for when my number is called," Phillips said. "I mean, obviously we plan to run the ball. We've got five running backs. So, I'm just going to keep pressing forward and stay ready for my opportunity."
Phillips is used to being overlooked. He went the junior college route after not receiving better offers out of high school.
Then after two years at Mississippi, where Phillips averaged 6.1 yards per carry as a junior, he found himself on the Texans' practice squad in 2020.
Phillips spent some time on the active roster last year, but is just now getting his chance. He talked about studying Arian Foster, the best running back in Texans' history who also was undrafted, and wanting the same success.
"Being undrafted added a boulder on my shoulder," he said.
Texans head coach David Culley has described the 5-feet, 8-inch, 209-pound Phillips as "tough, hard-nosed."
Ingram raved about him earlier this week.
"Man, Scottie is a baller," Ingram said Monday. "I told him to keep doing his thing, keep running the rock, keep running out the back field and catching the rock, picking up pass protection.
"He’s a back that can do a lot of things so I’ve told him to keep working on his craft and I think he’s going to be a good player, a good running back in this league for a long time. I think he can have a long career with his skillset and his mindset, so I am a Scottie Phillips fan."
For a team lacking a ton of young talent, there's hope Phillips can develop into a player the Texans want to keep beyond this season.
Brandon Scott manages digital content for SportsRadio 610. Follow him on Twitter @brandonkscott.
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