@Browns
The Texans have traded for Browns running back Duke Johnson.
The #Texans traded a fourth-round pick in the 2020 draft that can become a third-rounder to the #Browns for Duke Johnson, source said.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 8, 2019
The Texans had just Lamar Miller on the roster who had significant NFL carries. Johnson was unhappy and had made it clear he would like to play for another team. The compensation is minimal when you consider Johnson is a solid compliment to Miller and under contract for two seasons after this.
Johnson accounted for 630 total yards and three touchdowns last year for the Browns. He averaged five yards per carry and nine yards per reception. Johnson had 47 catches last year while the Texans had 50 catches from all their running backs. In fact, Johnson would have been behind DeAndre Hopkins in receptions on the team last year.
🚨 Duke Johnson heads to Houston!
Johnson's career receiving grade (90.9) ranks fifth among running backs with at least 100 targets dating back to 2015. https://t.co/qHSmqjjMq8
— PFF (@PFF) August 8, 2019
Johnson also ranks 2nd in forced missed tackles per reception (0.34), 7th in yards per route run (1.73) and 4th in percentage of receptions resulting in a first down or touchdown (44.0%). pic.twitter.com/XxCHQnBRvT
— PFF (@PFF) August 8, 2019
Duke Johnson the past two seasons combined (played all 32 games) in RB receiving rankings:
Yards - 5th
Targets - 6th
Receptions - 6th
Touchdowns - 9th
— Cody Stoots (@Cody_Stoots) August 8, 2019
Most Popular
SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome
Listen Live
Lance McCullers Jr is to start Sunday for the Houston Astros against the Chicago White Sox in his first major league appearance since Game 3 of the 2022 World Series in Philadelphia.
“I’m really excited to have him on the mound on Sunday,” Astros manager Joe Espada said Wednesday. “He’s worked his tail off to get back to this point, and this whole entire team and this city should be excited to get Lance back.”
An All-Star in 2018, McCullers had surgery on June 13, 2023, to repair his right flexor tendon and to remove a bone spur. The 31-year-old right-hander threw a bullpen session last June but had a setback and was shut down for the year. He has made four minor league rehab starts this year, allowing four runs and 10 hits over 12 2/3 innings with 16 strikeouts and six walks.
In his last appearance, he struck out seven in five shutout innings for Double-A Corpus Christi on Saturday.
“My last two outings I’ve felt really good, my stuff has been pretty crisp,” McCullers said.
He is 49-32 with a 3.48 ERA in seven seasons, all with Houston. McCullers first injured his flexor tendon while pitching on short rest during the 2021 AL Division Series. He missed the first four months of the 2022 season.
“Been waiting for it for a long time,” McCullers said. “Almost feel like I’m making my debut in some aspects, but it’s been a really long road for me.”
McCullers has missed three full seasons since making his major league debut in 2015.
“It would’ve been a pretty sad ending to my story,” McCullers said.