Burkhead announced his retirement from the NFL on Monday.
Now 33 years old, Burkhead spent the 2023 season out of the league after going unsigned as a free agent. Selected in the sixth round of the 2013 NFL Draft by the Bengals, Burkhead spent the first four years of his career in Cincinnati followed by four seasons with the Patriots and his final two with the Texans. In total, Burkhead amassed a career 488-1,908-17 rushing line and 192-1,534-9 receiving line across 115 contests. He made it to a pair of Super Bowls with New England, winning a ring in 2018. Burkhead notably scored the game-winning touchdown in overtime to beat the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game that postseason.
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Texans' Rex Burkhead: Heads to free agency
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Burkhead caught one of two targets for one yard in a 32-31 victory over the Colts in Week 18.
Burkhead finished the season with zero carries over the final four games. After he toted the ball 14 times in the season opener, the Texans quickly turned to rookie Dameon Pierce (ankle) as the lead back. Burkhead had 26 total rushing attempts for 80 yards while catching a career-high 37 passes on 51 targets for 204 yards and a touchdown. That he was limited to receiving duties following Pierce's season-ending ankle injury should indicate his future with the organization, which will be hiring a new head coach for the third consecutive season. Burkhead, who turns 33 in the offseason, becomes a free agent in March and is unlikely to be back with Houston in 2023.
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Texans' Rex Burkhead: Targeted five times in loss
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Burkhead caught three of five targets for 10 yards and did not have a rushing attempt in Sunday's 31-3 loss to the Jaguars.
Burkhead maintains a minor presence in the backfield, largely due to his ability as a receiver. He has a career-high 49 targets in 2022, which is not surprising given that Houston often plays from behind. As for rushing, Burkhead hasn't seen a carry in the last three games, as Royce Freeman and Dare Ogunbowale have been the main fill-ins for Dameon Pierce (ankle).
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Texans' Rex Burkhead: Scores on fumble recovery
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Burkhead caught both his targets for seven yards and recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown in Saturday's 19-14 win over Tennessee.
For the second straight week and fourth time in the last five games, Burkhead did not get a rushing attempt. Since Dameon Pierce's season-ending ankle injury, the Texans have used Dare Ogunbowale and Royce Freeman as their main running backs. The team does, however, value Burkhead as a receiving threat, and he was on the field to recover Davis Mills' fumble into the end zone and tie the game in the first quarter. Burkhead ranks fourth on the team with 33 catches, tops among non-wide receivers.
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Texans' Rex Burkhead: Used as target only
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Burkhead did not have a carry and caught two of four targets for 17 yards in Sunday's 30-24 overtime loss to Kansas City.
Burkhead was speculated to be in line for the top job in the backfield with starter Dameon Pierce (ankle) inactive, but he was never handed the ball. Instead, he watched Dare Ogunbowale (27 snaps, eight carries, 14 yards) and elevated practice-teamer Royce Freeman (24 snaps, 11 carries, 51 yards) lead the ground attack, leaving Burkhead with a bleak fantasy outlook even if Pierce misses additional time.
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Texans' Rex Burkhead: Sleeper RBs
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Burkhead and Dare Ogunbowale will share the backfield for the Texans with Dameon Pierce (ankle) hurt, and Burkhead is the preferred Fantasy option. The one game this season where he was the lead running back in Week 1 against the Colts he finished with 14 carries for 40 yards and five catches for 30 yards on eight targets. He could have a similar stat line this week against the Chiefs, who have allowed three running backs to score at least 15 PPR points in the past four games. Ogunbowale could end up as the lead option, but he has topped eight PPR points just once this year.
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Texans' Rex Burkhead: Sleepers (Start/Sit)
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Burkhead and Dare Ogunbowale will share the backfield for the Texans with Dameon Pierce (ankle) hurt, and Burkhead is the preferred Fantasy option. The one game this season where he was the lead running back in Week 1 against the Colts he finished with 14 carries for 40 yards and five catches for 30 yards on eight targets. He could have a similar stat line this week against the Chiefs, who have allowed three running backs to score at least 15 PPR points in the past four games. Ogunbowale could end up as the lead option, but he has topped eight PPR points just once this year.
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Texans' Rex Burkhead: In line for more work
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Burkhead is poised for a bigger role Sunday versus the Chiefs with Dameon Pierce (ankle) ruled out.
Burkhead and Dare Ogunbowale are the two healthy running backs on the Texans' active roster, while Gerrid Doaks and Royce Freeman are candidates to be elevated from the practice squad for Week 15. Burkhead appears to be the best bet for carries between the tackles and in short-yardage situations, but he's also averaging just 3.1 yards on his 26 rushes and 5.8 yards on his 29 catches through 12 games this season.
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Texans' Rex Burkhead: Week 15 Waiver Priority List
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Dameon Pierce (ankle) is likely out for Week 15 against the Chiefs, and the Texans will probably use a tandem of Burkhead and Dare Ogunbowale (1 percent rostered). I would expect Burkhead to get more carries, with Ogunbowale working on passing downs, but the Texans can use both -- much like they did their quarterbacks in Week 14 at Dallas. Burkhead is a low-end flex option in Week 15 against Kansas City, with Ogunbowale a desperation flex in PPR. Burkhead has two games this season with at least 12 PPR points as the backup to Pierce, and Ogunbowale has topped eight PPR points just once this year. Burkhead is worth up to 5 percent of your remaining FAB, and Ogunbowale is worth 1 percent in PPR.
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Texans' Rex Burkhead: Fills in for Pierce
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Burkhead had two carries for minus-3 yards and caught his lone target for five yards in Sunday's 27-23 loss to the Cowboys in Week 14.
Burkhead played five snaps -- fewer than Dare Ogunbowale and Eno Benjamin -- but he was the back of choice for a key fourth-quarter drive after Dameon Pierce left with an ankle injury. Following a turnover, Houston had the ball at the Dallas four-yard line with a chance to expand its lead to two scores. Burkhead had both of his carries during that series, and Houston failed to put any points on the board. Pierce's injury will be the top issue for the Texans leading up to Sunday's home game against Kansas City. If he can't go, it will be interesting to see if Burkhead is tapped as the lead back, or if the team will turn to Ogunbowale or Benjamin.
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Texans' Rex Burkhead: Clears protocol
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Burkhead (concussion) isn't listed on the Week 14 injury report ahead of Sunday's matchup with Dallas.
Burkhead upgraded to full practice participation last Friday but nonetheless ended up on the inactive list for this past Sunday's loss to the Browns. His removal from the Week 14 practice report implies that he's cleared the concussion protocol, setting him up to serve as the top backup to lead running back Dameon Pierce this Sunday in Dallas. Burkhead's imprending return will result in Dare Ogunbowale moving back to a special-teams role.
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Texans' Rex Burkhead: Missing first game of season
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Burkhead (concussion) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Browns, Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Burkhead appeared to be trending toward playing this weekend after he returned to practice Friday as a full participant, but he apparently wasn't able to gain clearance from an independent neurologist, which is the final step for players to exit the NFL's concussion protocol. With Burkhead still stuck in the protocol and thus set to miss his first game of the season, the Texans will turn to Eno Benjamin and Dare Ogunbowale to provide depth behind starter Dameon Pierce.
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Texans' Rex Burkhead: Officially questionable
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Burkhead (concussion) is questionable for Sunday's matchup against the Browns.
After logging back-to-back DNPs due to a concussion he suffered in the team's Week 12 loss to Miami, Burkhead returned to practice Friday as a full participant. However, the backup running back is still considered questionable for Week 13. If he's unavailable, Dare Ogunbowale and Eno Benjamin, who was recently claimed off waivers, could be in store for increased roles behind Dameon Pierce during Houston's matchup against Cleveland.
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Texans' Rex Burkhead: Returns to practice Friday
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Burkhead (concussion) is back at practice Friday, Brooks Kubena of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Burkhead suffered a concussion during the Texans' Week 12 loss to Miami and sat out practice Wednesday and Thursday, but he's back on the field for Friday's session. It's unclear whether the 32-year-old has cleared the concussion protocol, leaving his status for Sunday's matchup with the Browns up in the air.
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Texans' Rex Burkhead: Sitting out another practice
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Burkhead (concussion) isn't practicing Thursday, Brooks Kubena of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Burkhead has opened Week 13 prep with two straight absences from practice and doesn't look to be trending toward being available Sunday against the Browns. if Burkhead is ruled out for Houston's matchup with Cleveland following Friday's practice, Eno Benjamin could be poised to make his Texans debut as the top backup to starting running back Dameon Pierce.
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Texans' Rex Burkhead: Missing practice with concussion
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Burkhead (concussion) didn't practice Wednesday, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.
Burkhead was forced out of Sunday's loss at Miami in the first half after entering the concussion protocol and is still awaiting clearance from team physicians to return to football activities. Should he need to sit out Week 13 against the Browns, Dare Ogunbowale and Eno Benjamin would be in line for complementary roles behind top back Dameon Pierce.
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Texans' Rex Burkhead: In concussion protocol
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Coach Lovie Smith revealed Monday that Burkhead has entered the NFL's five-step concussion protocol, Deepi Sidhu of the Texans' official site reports.
Burkhead exited Sunday's loss to the Dolphins with a head injury, and he may have suffered a concussion. If Burkhead is unable to pass the protocol prior to facing the Browns in Week 13, Dare Ogunbowale and Eno Benjamin will both be candidates to fill Burkhead's usual change-of-pace role behind Dameon Pierce.
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Texans' Rex Burkhead: Being evaluated for head injury
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Burkhead suffered a head injury during the fourth quarter of Sunday's 30-15 loss to the Dolphins in Week 12. He finished with zero carries and caught one of two targets for five yards.
Burkhead fell awkwardly after being hit in the air while attempting to catch a pass. Houston head coach Lovie Smith confirmed the running back was being evaluated for a concussion. If the injury lingers into Week 13, Dare Ogunbowale and Eno Benjamin will move up the depth chart.
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Texans' Rex Burkhead: Zero touches in loss
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Burkhead played a season-low nine snaps and had zero touches in Sunday's 23-10 loss to the Commanders.
Burkhead's been marginalized, and rightly so, by rookie Dameon Pierce, but the veteran had managed at least one touch or target in a game until Week 11. Eno Benjamin, who the Texans claimed off waivers this past week, was inactive, but he could be ready to back up Pierce for Week 12's road game in Miami.
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Texans' Rex Burkhead: Logs three touches in loss
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Burkhead had one carry for two yards and caught two of two targets for 28 yards in Sunday's 24-16 loss to the Giants.
He handled his usual role, occasionally filling in for Dameon Pierce on passing downs while playing 16 snaps. Burkhead was part of one head-scratching call by offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton, who dialed up a shotgun draw for the veteran on third-and-4 near midfield late in the second quarter that went nowhere. As long Pierce is healthy, Burkhead's usage isn't likely to change.
