Kenny

Hilliard

Hilliard, last year’s seventh-round pick, received 51 carries this preseason, but was only able to turn them into 137 scoreless yards (2.7 YPC) while fumbling twice. He spent most of last year on the Texans’ practice squad.

They all finished the season on Houston’s practice squad. Hilliard often impresses in preseason games, but he’s been unable to get past Alfred Blue for the past two seasons.

Signed to a reserve/future contract in January, Hilliard was buried behind Lamar Miller, Alfred Blue, Jonathan Grimes, Akeem Hunt, and Tyler Ervin on the offseason roster. After D’Onta Foreman’s selection in the second round, Hilliard’s fate was sealed.

The 2015 seventh-rounder never made an impact in Houston. He will be a camp body for the Redskins after the loss of Keith Marshall.

Houston has now signed all seven of its draft picks. The Texans took a seventh-round flier on Hilliard despite a thoroughly unimpressive 40 time. Even if Hilliard overachieves in camp, he won’t cut into Arian Foster or Alfred Blue’s carries.

Jonathan Grimes is listed with the second team, with Chris Polk coming in third. Rookie Kenny Hilliard is a distant fourth. Blue has the inside track to start in Arian Foster’s absence after backing him up last year, but will be a part of a committee, and isn’t guaranteed early-down duties. We’ll know much more about coach Bill O’Brien’s plans for his backfield after the third preseason game, which is generally a team’s regular-season dress rehearsal.

Hilliard was the 235th pick in May’s draft. He wasn’t able to leap any of Alfred Blue, Jonathan Grimes, or Chris Polk on the depth chart but could resurface on the practice squad. Hilliard averaged just 2.3 YPC on 48 preseason totes.

Houston radio host Jayson Braddock reports Foster is a candidate for injured reserve/designated to return. That would keep Foster out until Week 10. Foster is no stranger to groin issues, missing two games with one in 2014. Foster remained one of the league’s best backs last season, but soft-tissue injuries have begun to take their toll. He’s having more and more trouble staying on the field. Alfred Blue was Foster’s 2014 backup, but must hold off Jonathan Grimes, Chris Polk, and rookie Kenny Hilliard for the duties this season. Look for the Texans to add a free agent running back in the coming days.

The Texans are fully expected to sign Pierre Thomas, adding him to a group that also includes Alfred Blue, Jonathan Grimes, Chris Polk and Kenny Hilliard. Houston may not stop there, as O’Brien said the Texans will continue to explore the running back market and wouldn’t rule out a trade. He’s looking for a running back who “can do a little bit of everything.” In the meantime, Blue would appear to be the front-runner for run-game work with incoming Thomas assuming a similar role he held in New Orleans as a third-down back and pass protector. None of these backs should command more than a dozen touches per game.

Hilliard was the second back through Houston’s rotation, but played deep into the fourth quarter. The Texans listed him as the No. 4 running back on their unofficial depth chart. A seventh-round pick, Hilliard has potential for an early-season role with Arian Foster sidelined. Alfred Blue remains the favorite to start.