A day after the Broncos rescinded Phillip Lindsay‘s RFA tender, the Pro Bowl running back will join another crowded backfield. The Texans are signing Lindsay to a one-year contract, according to his agent (on Twitter).
Lindsay will earn $3.25MM in 2021, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The deal could reach $3.75MM. This marks a bit of a bump for the productive back, who was previously tethered to a $2.13MM RFA tender salary. Lindsay will receive $1MM in guarantees, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.
In Houston, Lindsay will link up with fellow former Pro Bowlers David Johnson and Mark Ingram. Had Lindsay played the 2021 season on his RFA tender, he would have been eligible for unrestricted free agency in 2022. This Texans contract would allow him to have a chance to rebuild his value in advance of another free agency bid next year.
Despite becoming the first UDFA in NFL history to open his career with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, Lindsay fell out of favor in Denver. The Broncos’ interesting decision to give Melvin Gordon a two-year, $16MM deal led to Lindsay splitting time with the ex-Chargers first-rounder and totaling just 502 rushing yards. The Colorado alum, however, made the Pro Bowl as a rookie and continued to excel in 2019 despite playing behind a middling Denver offensive line. Lindsay averaged 5.4 yards per carry and totaled 10 TDs as a rookie.
One of the NFL’s most explosive runners over his first two seasons, Lindsay is by far the youngest of the three notable backs in Houston. Johnson will turn 30 later this year; Ingram will be 32 by season’s end. The Texans, who released Duke Johnson earlier this year, also have Dontrell Hilliard on their roster.
I’m surprised he took such a cheap deal to go to Houston. He’s a good back and I figured he would get more money elsewhere.
If they cut David Johnson or try trade him they could clear a little more space but this deal doesn’t really make to much sense. Why do you need 3 RBs
because Johnson is made out of glass and Ingram looks shot last year.
It makes sense when you consider that the Texans are run by incompetent morons.
Their gm came from New England he knows the importance of having quality runningbacks. Patriots go 4 deep at that position. Plus running the ball keeps the pressure off Watson and that mediocre offensive line.
How many people have ‘came from New England’ and been utter failures elsewhere?
How many people that came from New England go to dumpster fire situations?
Too many to count
Lindsey is the best RB out of the 3. So the question should be, when does David Johnson get traded or cut…
I wonder who else was in the market for Lindsay, as this seems like an odd marriage.
Can’t see how the jets didn’t offer him a 1yr 4mil deal
Agreed. Baffling.