After signing with the Houston Texans in free agency, Phillip Lindsay is looking forward to a fresh start and making an impact on offense. In his first two NFL seasons, the Pro Bowl running back put up back put up back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons for the Denver Broncos.
"If you want to be a running back, you've got to be able to run inside, inside-out," Lindsay said. "That's just how I take my game. I know how to run inside, I can run outside. I just want to put everything together and be an all-around running back this year. I make my money inside and I know that I have the speed to be outside. For me, it's just about getting comfortable with the plays, getting familiar with the offensive line and just be explosive."
Despite multiple injuries that caused him to miss five games last season, Lindsay rushed for 502 yards on 118 carries and scored one touchdown in 2020. This offseason, Lindsay's fresh start includes a new city and new team. For the first time in his life, the 26-year-old will be playing football outside of his home state of Colorado.
"From the start – I was at Colorado in high school, went to the University of Colorado and then played some of my NFL years in Denver, so I never had to leave state," Lindsay said. "For me, everything was comfortable. I had everything right there – my family, my fiancée's family was there, our son was in a comfortable situation. So, when we did have to come to Houston, it's new for all of us. We're all trying to adjust to it. It's fun, though. In a sense it's going to help in a lot of different ways."
Now in this fourth NFL season, Lindsay has been back at work in Houston. Last week, the Texans wrapped up their offseason program and Organized Team Activities (OTAs). Feeling healthy, Lindsay was on the field with his new teammates. The running backs group, led by position coach Danny Barrett, is diverse and Lindsay just hopes to make an impact.
"For me, I want to be explosive," Lindsay said. "That's who I am. I've never been one to need a bunch of carries to get where I need to go. I want to be able to be explosive, I want to help my team put points on the board and just do my part and help each other out, help Dave (David Johnson) out, help Mark (Ingram II) out, help the younger running backs out, Rex (Burkhead) out – all of us come together and put some points on the board."
The Texans will report for training camp at the Houston Methodist Training Center on July 27.
