Dare Ogunbowale

Following Dameon Pierce's season-ending ankle injury in Week 14 last season, the Texans were left with Ogunbowale, Royce Freeman and Red Burkhead in the backfield. Ogunbowale and Freeman finished the season as co-leads but neither was going to be featured for long. Pierce is back from his injury and the Texans also added a capable backup in Devin Singletary, who spent the first four years of his career in Buffalo, including at times as the lead back. Ogunbowale will be no better than third on the team's depth chart and probably fourth behind Mike Boone.

Ogunbowale, who was an undrafted free agent signed by the Texans in 2017, returns to Houston on a two-year deal. He never suited up for Houston other than preseason games but managed to carve out a marginal NFL career for three franchises over five seasons, most recently with Jacksonville. Ogunbowale joins a backfield in transition, which in theory means an opportunity (currently topping the depth chart are fourth-round pick Dameon Pierce and 32-year-old Rex Burkhead). However, the Texans likely kept Ogunbowale around for special teams and blocking, while a practice-squad call-up like Marlon Mack could be next in line for ground work if Pierce is demoted or misses time. Ogunbowale could see some targets if Burkhead needs to be replaced, but the passing-down role doesn't come with much upside.

The undrafted journeyman out of Wisconsin saw limited snaps behind rookie James Robinson for most of 2020, though he had 28 carries for 121 yards while catching seven passes for 29 yards over the last two games of the season. The Jags then drafted Travis Etienne in the first round, but his season-ending injury in August could clear up a role for Ogunbowale on passing downs. Still, James Robinson and Carlos Hyde figure to get the carries, while Ogunbowale is valued for special teams and blocking.

After not logging a regular-season touch over his first two professional campaigns, Ogunbowale carved out a consistent role as the Buccaneers' third-down back in 2019. The Wisconsin product had a 35-286-0 line through the air on 46 targets, and while he turned 11 carries into just 17 yards, he also notched the first two rushing touchdowns of his career. Ogunbowale appeared destined for a change-of-pace/special teams role with the Bucs in 2020, but the team's September addition of Leonard Fournette made him the odd man out, with Ronald Jones, Ke'Shawn Vaughn and LeSean McCoy also in the team's backfield mix.

Undrafted back in 2017, Ogunbowale has spent time with the Texans, Redskins and Buccaneers, playing in four regular-season games. He briefly returned kickoffs for Tampa Bay in November last season, and he now has a shot to compete with Andre Ellington and Bruce Anderson for the No. 3 job at running back.