INDIANAPOLIS – Growing up in Florida, Texans running back Devin Singletary wasn’t the original engine nickname in his family.
His father, Devonn Singletary Sr., was already known as ‘Motor.’
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“It was passed down from my father, he still is Motor,” Singletary said. “I was ‘Little Motor.’ It just stuck.”
Arguably, Singletary, other than his 5-foot-7 height, can no longer be described as little.
“I’m definitely big ‘Motor now,” Singletary said with a laugh.
Singletary has emerged as a pivotal figure in the Texans’ offense as their primary running back. Since signing a one-year, $3.75 million contract last offseason, the former Buffalo Bills third-round draft pick from Florida Atlantic has become a reason why the Texans win football games. He has rushed for 835 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 4.3 yards per carry. He has 1,026 total yards from scrimmage, reaching that 1,000-yard milestone for the third consecutive year.
Singletary, 26, has made an immediate impact in his first season with the Texans. And a victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday night would clinch a playoff berth for the 9-7 Texans.
A pending unrestricted free agent whose contract expires after the season, Singletary would ideally like to re-sign with the Texans.
“Yeah, man, I love it here,” Singletary told KPRC 2. “I love the guys. I love the coaches, the staff around the building. If we can make it happen, I would love to be here.”
#Texans running back Devin 'Motor' Singletary @motorsingletary on his success in Bobby Slowik offense adds 'I love it here' and would embrace returning if that can be worked out @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/bdUvRVwFMl
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) January 3, 2024
Singletary was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week after rushing for a career-high 150 yards in a win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Then, he rushed for 112 yards the following week in a win over the Arizona Cardinals. He rushed for 80 yards on just 16 carries, averaging five yards per carry last week in a win over the Tennessee Titans.
The way that Singletary is able to make defenders miss, his vision and his underrated power have all combined to make him an important man in the Texans’ offense
“We believe he is playing at an exceptional level, and I don’t think that’s changed,” Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik said. “I think in the run game, the command he has right now of the scheme and of what we’re trying to get done has manifested in how we’re running the ball. I also think it shows how much better and further along our front and our tight ends have come in that area.
“There’s holes that are there, and ‘Motor’ every time we get the structure we want – the ball is going where we want it to go, and then he’s almost always making at least one guy miss. We’re blocking things for four [yards], and he’s getting seven, eight, nine, which, that’s big time in the run game. And then, there’s been a couple plays where we might not have had the right structure or we didn’t block it particularly well, and he’s made something happen on his own.”
Against the Titans, Singletary broke loose for a 24-yard run. That’s the Texans’ longest run of the season.
Singletary did the work, though, improvising on the fly.
Singletary ranks 16th in the NFL in the rushing yards over expected metric, according to NextGen Stats.
“It was not well-blocked,” Slowik said. “He just went out there and made something happen on his own. We had two critical blocks on the play that really helped spring him, but he’s playing football at a really high level. He’s seeing it really well. He’s very confident right now, and that’s big when you get to this time of year.”
Singletary has been a strong fit in the Texans’ offense and inside their locker room. Offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil, a Pro Bowl selection, said it’s a lot of fun blocking for Singletary.
“It’s been fun, man,” Singletary said. “Shout-out to the guys around me. I wouldn’t be able to do it without the great guys around me.”
Another win and the Texans are headed to the playoffs, and Singletary is close to a career-high for rushing yards. He need just 36 more yards to surpass his previous single-season best of 870 yards in 2021 for the Bills.
Singletary has been a factor in the passing game, too, with 29 receptions for 191 yards.
“If you’re a guy that loves ballin’ and loves the game,” Singletary said, “you definitely want the ball in your hands.”
After taking over as the featured running back from former Pro Bowl runner Dameon Pierce, who led the team with 939 rushing yards as a rookie last season, Singletary helped create balance in a pass-first offense and has drawn praise from coaches DeMeco Ryans and Slowik.
“It means a lot,” Singletary said. “That means all your hard work is being seen, it’s being noticed. Of course, we’re not done yet. Very excited, this is what you work for. It’s right here in front of us. I’m definitely excited.”
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com.