Damarea

Crockett

Fellow running backs Wes Hills, John Lovett, and Aaron Shampklin also worked out for the Jets. Though any signings from this group will likely be camp bodies and nothing more, a light investment at running back to start camp could be taken as a positive sign on Breece Hall’s recovery. Hall is working his way back from a torn ACL and if the team was worried about his status for Week 1, they would likely add a bigger name to their backfield. They aren’t out of the running for a back like Dalvin Cook, but if Hall makes it through camp without much in the way of competition for touches, he will be locked and loaded for an RB1 season.

Melvin Gordon (hip) sidelined prompted the Broncos to activate Crockett from the practice squad. He’ll be the team’s No. 3 back behind Javonte Williams and Mike Boone.

Crockett has been in on 28 special teams snaps across Weeks 1-2 and will now have a full-time spot on the 53-man roster as a backup to Melvin Gordon and Javonte Williams.

Crockett turned heads at Texans training camp and held his own with 97 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries during the preseason slate but became expendable when Houston acquired veteran Carlos Hyde from Kansas City. Armed with good speed (4.40 forty at his Pro Day) and ideal measurables (5'10"/225), the undrafted rookie certainly offers some intriguing traits.

Briefly in the running for No. 2 duties this summer, Crockett ended up getting passed by fellow UDFA Karan Higdon. His fate was then sealed when the Texans acquired Carlos Hyde from the Chiefs. Crockett rushed 24 times for 97 yards (4.0 YPC) and a score this summer. Still only 21, Crockett has intriguing traits. He will likely be developed on the practice squad.

Maliek Collins fell on Miller’s leg as he was cutting. It bent the wrong way, making for a gruesome scene. It certainly had the looks of a season-ender. Duke Johnson is now the only experienced back left in the Texans’ backfield. Johnson played early downs in college but has never been given the chance in the pros. We doubt uncreative coach Bill O’Brien will be the one to give it to him. UDFA Damarea Crockett is relevant again, while the Texans will surely be taking a look at the free agent and trade markets.

“I think they have really shown up,” coach Bill O’Brien said of Crockett and fellow UDFA Karan Higdon after the game. Big-play threat, speed demon Crockett has been having a strong camp, but the Texans’ acquisition of Duke Johnson has significantly lowered his odds of earning a meaningful role in the offense. That’s if he even makes the 53-man roster. Crockett is probably ahead of Higdon right now.

There’s little competition behind Lamar Miller, so Crockett (5'10"/225) has a chance to make a name for himself as an undrafted free agent. At Missouri, Crockett averaged 5.9 yards per carry, and he showed 4.40 speed with a 37-inch vertical during pre-draft workouts. The size-speed runner has some sleeper appeal if the Texans don’t add a quality veteran to the depth chart.

Crockett (5’10/225) turned pro as a true junior after logging a career 380/2,252/19 (5.9 YPC) rushing line with 21 career catches, looking like a future star as a true freshman only to lose momentum via a 2017 year-ending shoulder injury and falling into a committee last year. Crockett rehabbed his stock at Mizzou’s Pro Day with a 4.4-flat forty and 37-inch vertical. A college disappointment with NFL talent, Crockett’s Speed Score gives him sleeper appeal with rare straight-line movement skills for his size.