One’s a keeper – the other might need a resume refresh
Last season the Houston Texans leaned hard on Joe Mixon as the RB1 and he responded with 1016 yards, 52 first downs and 11 touchdowns on the ground.
Recently they added Nick Chubb to the running back bullpen, likely meaning either Dameon Pierce or Dare Ogunbowale is the odd man out for the 2025 season.
Most Texans fans should recall Pierce’s rookie campaign. In fact, he was just about the lone highlight for the team that year. Unfortunately for the young bruiser-back, he’s yet to come anywhere near close to that output since. Often become an afterthought, or not a thought at all.
Texans RB Dameon Pierce is out for the remainder of the season with an Ankle injury
What a rookie campaign ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/PuzbzmKDsh
— Andrew Bohovich (@DrewScouts) December 17, 2022
Pierce had 40 rushes for 293 yards, 7 first downs and 2 touchdowns on the ground in 2024. He also caught 2 passes for a whopping 2 additional yards.
Ogunbowale had 30 chances to pound the rock, coming away with 112 yards, 5 first downs and no ground scores. However, he did catch 19 passes for 198 yards, 8 first downs and 1 air score.
The 9th year tailback landed on the Texans after stints with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Washington Whatevers.
C.J. Stroud to Dare Ogunbowale in Mini-Camp:
But look at the Texans OL pick up that stunt pic.twitter.com/z9HYngP0Ig
— Jacob (@TexansJacob) June 25, 2025
NFL running backs often see their careers measured in carries. As in, every back has a finite amount of runs in them before they’re put out to pasture.
Pierce has carried the ball 405 times in the regular season. He saw 220 in year 1, 145 in his sophomore campaign and only 40 last season.
Ogunbowale has only 166 in his 8 seasons in the league – not once topping 50 in a year.
Both players contribute on special teams as well:
#Texans RB Dare Ogunbowale with the go-ahead 29-yd field goal! pic.twitter.com/tU6dT9j3cr
— Kicker Update (@kickerupdate) November 5, 2023
How many running backs kick go-ahead field goals? Against their former team no less.
If it were up to me, I’d keep ‘em both. Pierce has proven to be a game-breaker when put in the right situation. And, running backs are only as good as the offensive line they run behind. Will he ever be Joe Mixon 2.0? Probably not. But he still has a lot left in the tank and if Chubb breaks down, having Pierce is great insurance. Can Nick Calley and the new look o-line give him a path to success? Only time will tell.
There’s also a remote chance both players don’t make it past cut-downs and Texans’ general manager Nick Caserio brings in a different tailback altogether. But, it’s likely to come down to Pierce or Ogunbowale.
Who do you think Demeco Ryans keeps?