Texans RB D’Onta Foreman is expected to return to practice this week, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Foreman has been on the PUP list since the spring as he continues to battle back from a torn Achilles that prematurely ended his rookie campaign last November.
It was an especially tough blow for Foreman, as he suffered the injury during the best game of his brief NFL career, a performance that saw him carry the ball ten times for 65 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-clinching score. A third-round pick out of Texas, Foreman was drafted to be the team’s long-term answer at running back.
And he may still be the player Houston hoped for, though veteran Lamar Miller is enjoying a strong 2018 season with a 4.5 yards per carry average on 113 totes. But despite Miller’s contributions, the Texans’ running game as a whole is just 23rd in the league in overall efficiency, per Football Outsiders, so the team would surely love to get Foreman back in the mix.
If and when he suits up, Foreman would likely take over most of Alfred Blue‘s touches. Blue has appeared in all eight games for Houston this season, including one start. He has 79 carries for 258 yards, which amounts to an unimpressive 3.3 YPC average that is roughly in line with his 3.6 career mark.
Once Foreman returns to practice, the team will have 21 days to decide whether to add him to the roster. The Texans have won five in a row and have established themselves as heavy favorites to win the AFC South.