Houston Texans
The Texans didn’t even make it to the season with (somehow) 2018 Pro Bowl running back Lamar Miller.
It hasn’t affected their offense too much though as the Texans are using Deshaun Watson‘s mobility as a way to make it harder for defenses to attack the running game.
Really with the Texans it is less about the injuries they have now because outside of Miller they are really pretty healthy. The issue for them is the risk of injury they have in front of them.
Watson has struggled with injuries since leaving high school:
2014, freshman year at Clemson: Broken right hand, LCL strain, torn ACL
2016, junior year: Shoulder injury
2017, rookie year: ACL injury
2018, 2nd year: Broken ribs, partially collapsed lung
By my count, Deshaun Watson has already been tackled or hit 35 times between sacks, hits and rush attempts. That is an average of nearly 12 times per game, or 192 times for a season.
At some point you have to start worrying about the way you are managing your quarterback or else you could be dealing with an Andrew Luck situation in a few years.
You also have concerns with Laremy Tunsil who has had an ankle issue and who has never played a full season. Staying on offense, you also have to be concerned about Will Fuller and Keke Coutee, who missed a combined 19 games last year.
It just feels like a glass cannon situation in Houston. Maybe they stay healthy and continue to win games with Watson playing like he is, but even at their peak potential they are 2-1 after a controversial 2-point conversion against Jacksonville where they would have lost to nearly any other RB in the NFL on that play.
Right now most everything is working, but like I said Watson’s entire history and their one good offensive lineman already starting to have minor issues should be concerning.