We’ve heard it over and over for the past 2 years: the Texans want to play hat-on-hat, smash-mouth football. An aggressive, “establish the run” type of offense that the Erhardt-Perkins offensive scheme thrives on, when executed properly.
Unfortunately, offensive coordinator Nick Caley and offensive line coach/run game coordinator Cole Popovich haven’t been able to pull this rabbit out of their (not) imaginary hat.
Last year, it was easy to point to running back Joe Mixon’s mysterious leg injury/illness/medical condition. To correct this in the off-season, general manager Nick Caserio traded former Detroit Lion RB2 David Montgomery, who was immediately injured.
Now, it all seems to come down to Woody Marks and a jumbo-package of key run plays that won’t fool the local High School defense, especially in an NFL one. Marks is a good runner, but not a one-man Houston Texans running back depth chart.
Despite the overwhelming evidence to make the case that coaching is the main culprit, both in what the coaches teach the players and the plays Caley calls out, head coach Demeco Ryans seems to think the players are to blame, 100%.
Well, if it’s a player problem, here’s a player solution:
While Derrick Henry may be 33 and nearing the end of the road, he still has plenty of gas in the tank. And, on a team with Woody Marks and CJ Stroud, he won’t have to carry the full load like he’s currently expected to do with the Baltimore Ravens. An old lion is still deadly and threatening. Even the mere threat of him is enough to scare opposing run defenses at times.
So far in 2026, Henry has carried the ball 158 times for 632 yards at an average of 4.0 yards per carry. He also caught 12 of 14 passes for 75 yards. All of this adds up to 9 touchdowns in the Ravens 2026 total. That’s enough to put him in 7th place in the current running back Top 10. That means an aging Henry is still better than most running backs in the NFL.
9 more touchdowns on the Texans’ season move them to 5-2, if not 6-1.
While other teams, such as the New York Giants, could work hard in the paint to get Henry, the Texans are in make-or-break time for the current regime. We’ve gone over, ad nauseum, how badly Caserio, Ryans, Caley, defensive coordinator Matt Burke and Popovich squandered off-season hype and fan goodwill. Continuing on the current path of failure leaves McNair’s with no choice but to fire some or all of them.
Often in these situations, warring GMs and coaches will make the Hail Mary trade to try to salvage a make or break, a player away season. With the history of Caserio’s spin and dealings in the trade, it’s entirely possible that this could, and will, happen.
According to Dan Graziano of ESPN, fans should keep an eye on Henry as the trade deadline approaches. With this season spiraling out of control, Baltimore could move him into a contender for a few draft picks.
“If he’s not in Baltimore’s plans beyond this year, the Ravens could find themselves fielding offers next week,” Graziano wrote. “Henry’s base salary this year is only $1.255 million (he made the remaining $14 million this year through bonuses already paid by the Ravens), so it would be very easy for another team to absorb into his cap.”
Where the problem really lies is the trade compensation with the Ravens. Rumors are swirling that it will take at least a 2nd round pick and a player or later round pick to get Henry away. Houston currently holds the 1st, 3rd, 4th and 3 – 7th round picks in 2027, and their normal complement in 2028. Odds is Baltimore will not take a 3rd to keep Henry in the AFC, when the Giants might easily offer up a 2nd.
Baltimore is lacking in one key area though, quarterback. And, Houston has arguably one of the best QB2s in the NFL with Davis Mills.
Could the Texans offer Mills, a 3rd and 7 to land Henry?
Giving up Stroud’s backup was probably unwise in a league where injuries are “when” not “if”, but not hiring a better offensive coach put the team in this position.
It also comes to tonight’s game. The Jacksonville Jaguars are in Baltimore preparing to play the Ravens on Thursday Night Football. If the Ravens win Henry will likely stay. If they lose, Caserio is on the clock.
If the Glitter Kitties win, it will continue their hold on the current AFC South lead. If they lose, Houston could come closer to taking that lead – assuming they beat the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. Are we rooting for the Jags to lose so the Texans’ schedule presents an easier path to the division title or for the Ravens to fall so Caserio has more of an open door to land one of the only true smash-mouth running backs they can get at the moment?
Why they didn’t actually follow Henry when he left the BESFs is a bit of a mystery, but now may be their chance to correct that. God knows Henry definitely proved he can run NRG…
If the Texans braintrust is truly locked into their hat-on-hat, jumbo package run game, then trading for Henry is a move they need to explore, and a sacrifice to make.