At 6-foot-3 and 234 pounds, Chris Brown could be the big back the Texans need to complement starter Steve Slaton in short-yardage situations.
He showed that skill on a 2-yard touchdown run in Houston's preseason opener. Now the Texans are hoping they can count on him in that role this season after a back problem kept him out all of last year.
"I think it made the whole team feel very good," coach Gary Kubiak said of Brown's performance against the Chiefs. "He wants to finish his career the right way — playing good football. I think our guys are rooting for him because he's very well-liked in the locker room and very respected."
Slaton established himself as the starter by rushing for more than 1,200 yards as a rookie last season, but the Texans are looking for another back to ease his workload this year.
Brown is Houston's biggest back by far, a full six inches and almost 20 pounds bigger than Slaton. If Brown can contribute, he should be able to help Houston's offense near the goal line, a place where Slaton struggled last season.
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