HOUSTON – As the Houston Texans prepared for their business trip to Green Bay on Sunday morning for a pair of practices preceding their preseason opener Thursday, the team released running back D’Onta Foreman.
The Texas City native was the team’s third-round draft pick in 2017, but his rookie season was cut short by a ruptured Achilles tendon injury in the team’s 10th game of the season.
Foreman returned to play in just one regular-season game last season, but he was healthy throughout the Texans offseason program and had not missed a practice during training camp.
Following the team’s third practice last Saturday, head coach Bill O’Brien was asked about having Foreman out there healthy again:
“It’s great. I have high expectations for him. I think that he’s a talented guy. He’s from this area. I know he wants to do well.
“I just think that he’s got a chance to be a really good football player. I think if he’s healthy and consistent and showing up day to day and putting the work in, he’s got the chance to be good. So, I have high expectations for him.”
Throughout camp, O’Brien had also noted that the backup running back spots behind the starter Lamar Miller were wide open.
“We have a lot of wide-open spots on the roster," O'Brien said. "It’s divided into different groups. You have different types of guys. So, you have your first and second guys. You have first- and second-down guys, you have your third-down guys, you have some guys that can do a little bit of everything."
“Special teams is a big factor in it," O'Brien added. "Is the guy willing to cover kicks? Like, Taiwan Jones, Buddy Howell? That's a big deal."
“When you look at a 53-man roster, you have certain guys at certain positions that'll be your starters," O'Brien said. "With the exception of offensive line and defensive line and quarterback, probably, special teams is a major factor in making the roster.”
Foreman rushed for 2,028 yards as a junior at Texas, and left school early to enter the NFL draft.