A full season has gone by, and the Texans still have little to no clarity on running back Joe Mixon. If anything, the more reports that come out continue to sound more and more concerning. Nobody knows whether Mixon will suit up for the Texans this upcoming season. What is clear, however, is that the Texans have their guy at running back with rookie Woody Marks .
Woody Marks did not end his rookie season on the brightest note as he finished the game vs the Patriots with just 14 carries for 17 yards and a critical fumble in the 3rd quarter. Nothing went right for this offseason. C.J. Stroud threw 4 interceptions; it was just not their day. That game should not overlook how fantastic Marks was in the previous game.
Woody Marks vs the Steelers in another bad C.J. Stroud game carried the Texans offense. He had his best game of the season with 19 carries for 112 yards and a touchdown on 5.9 yards per carry. That was the most carries in a playoff game without a negative or zero rush yards since at least 2000.
Marks had 832 yards this season on the ground and 2 touchdowns. While also being a factor in the passing game, hauling in 208 yards receiving and 3 touchdowns. Nobody expected Joe Mixon to miss the entire season, and a 4th round draft pick to hold down the fort the entire season.
It was not pretty, and it seemed like every game that Mark would take a trip to the medical tent, but he battled all season long. He made big-time plays, and he delivered big-time performances that helped the Texans get into the playoffs. The Texans may not have their clear answers on what will happen with Joe Mixon, but they should feel confident that Woody Marks can enter the season as the starter.
If this offensive line improves, Stroud finds his groove again, and Marks gets his opportunity to prepare as the starting running back, the sky is the limit for the season he can have. Woody Marks can be a swiss army Knife for this offense next season and run for 1000 yards. He would be just another USC Trojan who is panning out in the NFL.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Joe Mixon might not be a part of Texans’ future, but Woody Marks is
Reporting by Micah Huff, Trojans Wire / Trojans Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
