Houston Texans’ Dameon Pierce leaves great first impression on Joe Mixon during OTAs

The new Houston Texans team has coach DeMeco Ryans excited for the 2024 season. He believes the Texans have made significant improvements on both sides of the ball, headlined by landing All-Pro wide receiver Stefon Diggs during of a trade with the Buffalo Bills on April 3.

Houston’s upgrades to its offensive backfield are among Ryans’ favorite moves this offseason, given that the Texans successfully signed running back Joe Mixon from the Cincinnati Bengals.

Mixon will take the helm as Houston’s starting running back for the 2024 season. But despite the bad year Dameon Pierce had last year, the Texans expect their former fourth-round pick to remain in a vital role.

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The start of organized team activities gave the Texans a chance to see the improvements Pierce made early in his third season, and his qualities on and off the field left a big impression on Mixon.

“What I like about Dameon is he makes me work hard, too,” Mixon said. “I’ve always had a great work ethic. But the way he works, it’s like, ‘Okay, I’ve got to keep riding too.’ I think it’s a good thing for both of us and the other running backs in the room. We all feed off each other. We all bring certain things to the table. He works hard. of work.

Pierce joined the Texans as a fourth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. He appeared in 27 career games, totaling 1,355 yards and six touchdowns on 365 attempts.

In 2023, his second season with the franchise was a disappointment. Pierce finished with 416 yards and two touchdowns in 14 games. His lack of production led to a decrease in offensive snaps while Devin Singletary took the lead in Houston’s comeback.

The work ethic that Mixon likes is a sample of why Ryans believes Pierce will have a chance to reestablish himself as a vital part of Houston’s offensive backfield next season.

“What I saw from Dameon (Pierce) this offseason, he was a guy who got the job done,” Ryans said. “He’s changed his body, he’s strong, he’s been training every day of the offseason program.

“I see Dameon has a very clear headspace as we work, and I think that will allow him to have a really productive year this year. He has everything it takes to be a really good running back for us, and I think him and Joe (Mixon), as a double, would be very beneficial for all of us.”

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Follow Coty M. Davis on Twitter at @CotyDavis_24.