Texans Interested In RBs Pierre Thomas, Ben Malena, Joe McKnight & BenJarvus Green-Ellis

Update:

Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports that free agent RB Ray Rice is unlikely to be an option for the Texans in the wake of Arian Foster‘s groin injury.

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Rand Getlin reports that the Texans have put out a feeler on free agent RB Jeff Demps.

• Getlin adds that Demps has retired from Olympic track and is now completely committed to football.

Demps, 25, signed with the Patriots as an undrafted free agent out of Florida back in 2012. However, he was later traded to the Buccaneers in a deal that sent RB LeGarrette Blount to the Patriots in return for Demps and a 2013 seventh-round pick.

Unfortunately for Demps, he was unable to make the Buccaneers’ final 53-man roster coming out of the preseason and was placed on waivers.

The Colts signed him to a future/reserve contract back in January, but waived him just a few days after the draft.

Demps has yet to appear in an NFL game.

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According to Rand Getlin, the Texans have discussed the possibility of signing veteran RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis to a contract, given that some members of the coaching staff are familiar with him from their time together in New England.

• John McClain reported earlier that in addition to RB Pierre Thomas, the Texans are hosting Ben Malena and Joe McKnight for tryouts.
• McClain adds that Houston hopes to sign Thomas.

Green-Ellis, 30, hasn’t found any reported interest in nearly a year, so this is somewhat surprising to hear.

He last appeared in an NFL game for the Bengals during the 2013 season when he ran for 756 yards on 220 carries (3.4 YPC) to go along with seven touchdowns.

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Rand Getlin of NFL Media reports that the Houston Texans are hosting free agent RB Pierre Thomas for a visit on Wednesday.

• According to Ian Rapoport, the hope for the Texans is to sign him to a contract as long as everything goes well.

This comes just hours after the news broke that RB Arian Foster had sustained a serious groin injury that is likely to require surgery and cost him at least a portion of the season.

Thomas, 30, had two years remaining on his three-year, $6.9 million contract when the Saints elected to release him in a move that freed up $1.735 million in available cap space.

He’s, arguably, the best running back still available in free agency, due to his effectiveness in third-down situations and in the screen game.

In 2014, Thomas ran for 222 yards on 45 carries (4.9 YPC) to go along with 45 receptions for 378 yards receiving and three touchdowns. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 9 running back in the league out of 57 qualifying players.

Earlier in the day, we went over other speculative options that could make sense for the Texans.