The Texans released RB Marlon Mack from their practice squad. He remains well off the redraft radar and certainly isn't a must-hold in dynasty. Houston added WR Chris Conley to the practice squad in a corresponding move.
The Texans have cut RB Royce Freeman. With Marlon Mack on the practice squad, Houston’s depth now turns up Rex Burkhead and Dare Ogunbowale behind rookie Dameon Pierce.
RB Marlon Mack is expected to join the Texans practice squad, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. That means Mack couldn't find another team willing to sign him to the active roster. We'll see if Mack ends up getting called up in Houston, but he's obviously not a big part of the team's plans. He can be left on the waiver wire. RB Dameon Pierce will open the season as the Texans' lead runner.
The Texans released RB Marlon Mack. If you needed confirmation that Dameon Pierce will open the season as Houston's lead back, here you go. Mack simply hasn't been the same player since tearing his Achilles in September of 2020. We'll see if the 26-year-old gets a shot elsewhere, but he's well off the fantasy radar for now.
Texans rookie RB Dameon Pierce ran for 37 yards and a TD on 6 carries in Thursday night's preseason finale against the 49ers. Pierce started the game and handled Houston's first 4 RB carries before giving way to Rex Burkhead for a 2nd-down run on the opening possession. Pierce then converted the 3rd-and-1 play that followed and later scored the 1-yard TD run to close the drive. That marked the end of Pierce's night, with Burkhead, Marlon Mack and other playing on. HC Lovie Smith tried to temper the buzz on Pierce ahead of the game. “We’re talking a lot about Dameon, but I’m going to say the same thing for, we like what Marlon has done, Royce, Rex, Dare," he said Wednesday, per Texans Wire. "We have a good group. We have a good strong running back room.” It's pretty clear that the rookie will lead that room into the season. Just how much work Pierce gets will be the question we can't answer. And it's worth keeping in mind that no one expects this offense to rank in the top half of the league. Still, there's a case to be made for Pierce anywhere beyond the top 24 RBs in fantasy football drafts right now. The rookie moved up our RB rankings a little this morning.
The Texans elected not to play rookie RB Dameon Pierce in Saturday night's 2nd preseason game against the Rams. HC Lovie Smith said afterward that it was because they didn't need to see him, according to Pro Football Talk. Marlon Mack started the game, with Rex Burkhead, Dare Ogunbowale and Royce Freeman all working in as well. This doesn't necessarily mean that Pierce will lead the Week 1 backfield, but it sure seems to indicate things are heading in that direction. Pierce should certainly be the 1st Texans RB drafted (and the only one picked in many leagues). But be wary of chasing him too early. We still don't expect this to be a good offense, and the veteran RBs do figure to work in for touches. Smith said recently that all the RBs "have a certain strength."
ESPN Texans reporter DJ Bien-Aime believes "it's only a matter of time" before Houston OC Pep Hamilton makes rookie RB Dameon Pierce the "lead back." Bien-Aime believes the takeover could happen by sometime in September, pointing to the rookie's "explosiveness" edge over Marlon Mack and Rex Burkhead. Pierce worked behind others in the 1st preseason game but certainly showed best among what we all knew to be a lackluster group. Pierce has been our highest-projected Texans RB all along.
The Texans signed RB Marlon Mack to a 1-year deal. Mack tallied 1,999 yards and 17 TDs on 4.5 yards per carry across his 2nd and 3rd NFL seasons. But he tore his Achilles in the 2020 opener and totaled just 28 carries for 101 yards behind Jonathan Taylor and Nyheim Hines in Indianapolis last year. If somewhere close to 100%, though, Mack might just be the best in a Houston backfield currently sporting only Rex Burkhead, Royce Freeman and Dare Ogunbowale. We'll see if the Texans add more in the draft. Mack just turned 26 last month.
Colts RB Jonathan Taylor left in the 2nd quarter of Thursday night's game against the Jets with a knee injury. Indianapolis reached halftime with a 28-10 lead, so we wouldn't be surprised if the team shuts Taylor down for the night -- even if the injury isn't serious. We'll keep an eye on the situation either way.
Update: Taylor took the field to open the 2nd half.
The Chiefs have "looked into" trading for Colts RB Marlon Mack, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported a couple of weeks ago that Mack is on the trade block. He's looked pretty good coming off last year's torn Achilles, averaging 4.3 yards on 20 attempts. The Chiefs, of course, have a need at RB after losing Clyde Edwards-Helaire for the next few weeks. We'll see where this goes, but Mack is an interesting stash if you have a roster spot to play with.
The Colts and RB Marlon Mack have "agreed to mutually seek a trade," NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports. Mack made it back from last year's Achilles tear for Week 1 but has carried just 5 times so far this season. He was a healthy scratch last week. We'll see where this goes, but Mack is only worth stashing in deep fantasy leagues.
Colts RB Marlon Mack is a healthy scratch for today's game against the Titans. Jordan Wilkins is active as Indy's #3 RB behind Jonathan Taylor and Nyheim Hines. The news could mean a few extra carries for Taylor.
Colts HC Frank Reich said Tuesday that G Quenton Nelson has the same foot injury as QB Carson Wentz, according to multiple reports. He's having surgery immediately and faces the same return window (5-12 weeks) as Wentz. That's bad news for Jonathan Taylor and everyone else who lines up in the Indy backfield. We'll see exactly how long Nelson (and Wentz) remains out.
Colts RB Marlon Mack doesn't have any limitations in training camp. But he admits that he's still "trying to get the wheels right" after last September's torn Achilles. "I’d say my body and just getting my legs right,’" Mack said. “Still each day feel this and that, but just going out there and getting used to guys flowing around, getting used to practice with guys because I was with bags in the summer. Now I’m going with guys who are moving 100% and not being stationary. But it’s getting better each day, I would say that for sure. I’m getting more comfortable. I feel great." Mack is unlikely to be a fantasy factor this year without an injury to RB Jonathan Taylor. But we're curious to see just how much work he'll siphon from Taylor.
Zak Keefer of The Athletic reports that the Colts say RB Marlon Mack is back to 100% health for the start of camp. That's noteworthy, given Mack missed last year with a torn Achilles' tendon. Of course, being 100% healthy does not necessarily equal being back to your original performance level. But this is a big step for the veteran back. Mack still can't hope to be more than the #3 RB on this year's Indy roster, but his return could leave Jordan Wilkins without a spot. A near full-strength Mack could also stress the workload for Jonathan Taylor.
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