Texans running back Jawhar Jordan turns NFL debut into breakout performance: ‘Eyes got big, just seen daylight’

HOUSTON – Jawhar Jordan waited a long time for a day and an opportunity like Sunday when he displayed explosiveness, elusiveness speed and vision.

An NFL debut for the Texans’ practice squad running back elevated Saturday to the active roster represented a breakout performance as he rushed for 101 yards on 15 carries in his first regular-season game during a 40-20 victory over the Arizona Cardinals. The rushing yardage total put Jordan in the franchise record book. He is the second player in team history to rush for 100 yards or higher in their NFL debut, gaining one yard less than Ben Tate did 14 years ago.

Jordan became the first Texans running back to hit the century mark this season as he filled in for an injured Woody Marks and Nick Chubb. He also delivered the longest run of the season on a 50-yard run, catching a pitch from quarterback C.J. Stroud, finding a hole and busting through it, cutting back across the field as he dodged and ran away from pursuit. Jordan acknowledged he got a bit tired toward the end of the run as he traveled half the football field at NRG Stadium.

It was an electrifying moment for Jordan, who showed a dynamic running style and experience in the Texans’ running game system from his college years at Louisville and Syracuse.

“Oh man, my eyes got big,” Jordan said after receiving the game ball from Texans coach DeMeco Ryans. “I just seen daylight and I was flying as fast as I can. I got a little tired. It’s hard not playing for a while. It’s a blessing. I’m just glad we got the win.”

For Jordan, 26, a Long Island, New York native drafted in the sixth round by the Texans last year, this moment was a long time in the making.

After excelling at Louisville, the 5-foot-9 1/2, 186-pound runner dealt with a foot injury during his training for the NFL draft. He ran a much slower than expected 40-yard dash, a 4.56 at his campus Pro Day. Jordan told KPRC 2 he regularly ran in the low 4.4 range, but wasn’t fully healthy.

Now, his full speed is obvious to everyone.

“Jawhar did an outstanding job for us,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “For the young man to come in and for his first game to have a debut like he had. He ran the ball very well: efficient. He showed the explosiveness and the speed that he has and that we’ve seen in practice, while he’s been on the practice squad for us.

“It shows, again, whenever your number is called are you ready for that opportunity? No one knows until you get that moment. It’s about you taking advantage of that moment and not looking back and I thought Jawhar handled it very well.”

Jordan was waived last year during the roster cutdown before the start of the season and then signed back to the practice squad. He was waived again and signed to the practice squad in August. Then, Jordan was briefly off the Texans’ practice squad before being re-signed.

While he had shown flashes in preseason action and in practice, Jordan had never manufactured a performance like this one before.

“Jawhar is my dog, somebody who I got to see come in and put in work and been making plays for a long time at practice, in camp, preseason games,” Stroud said. “He gets a shot and I thought he took full advantage. I’m just super proud of him and his ability to make cuts and set up blocks.

“I thought he did a great job and he’s super fast. I tried to get out there on one of them and block for him, but he’s a little too fast for me. But I thought he did amazing today. I’m super proud of him.”

The life of a practice squad player is defined by obscurity. Literally, Jordan’s job is to give the Texans’ top-ranked defense a good look in practice to get them ready for the speed of games.

“You never know how guys will respond,” Ryans said. “We’ve seen flashes of it in practice. For him to come out and do it today, it was really cool to see and really proud of him for staying the course. It’s easy to get discouraged. When you’re not getting called up it’s easy to get discouraged. I think he’s handled himself the right way every week and took advantage of today.”

Jordan didn’t let the length of his wait, nearly two years into his NFL career, take away from his determination to help the team and show his competitive mettle.

“Being able to come out here with the opportunity and just prove my teammates that I can do a lot of things, I wouldn’t say it was too hard,” Jordan said. “Obviously, it was a little frustrating, but I just depend on God. I kept my faith, and just appreciate the opportunity. Playing the game of football, that’s what I do. I trust my teammates and just doing my job.”

Jordan averaged 6.7 yards per carry.

He showed a good understanding of the Nick Caley system, reading his blocks adeptly.

“I think it’s a blessing,” Jordan said. “It’s my turn. On the practice squad, you got to wait your turn. I think it’s just a blessing that I got this opportunity. It’s surreal.”

Marks’ ankle injury isn’t regarded as serious, so he could be back in the lineup next Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders. Chubb returned to practice from his rib injury Friday, but was held out of the game. He isn’t expected to be sidelined for long.

The way Jordan performed, though, perhaps he’s carved out a role in the offense.

Consider the Texans’ offensive line impressed.

They loved how Jordan read the blocks and scooted upfield so decisively.

“He has significant college experience running that type of play: again and again, just zone and then cut,” left tackle Aireontae Ersery said. “You see the speed, the elusiveness, the ability to make cuts, make guys miss. So, I definitely look forward to him getting more opportunities.”

Right tackle Trent Brown, who led interference for Jordan at the outset of his 50-yard run, said it was evident the newcomer to the offense was prepared.

“I don’t know where we came from,” Brown said. “But, obviously, he’s run wide zone before.”

Texans cornerback Kamari Lassiter wasn’t surprised by Jordan.

He trained with him before the NFL draft.

“I already knew him before we got drafted, just watching him train, he was explosive as hell,” Lassiter told KPRC 2. “Watching his film in college, he was taking kickoffs back, breaking runs. I already knew. Whenever he got to moving and grooving out there, I’m like: ‘Yeah, yeah, yeah.’”

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com