Ogunbowale had one carry for 11 yards in Sunday's 26-23 loss to the Lions.
Ogunbowale once again served as the top backup to Joe Mixon, as Dameon Pierce (hamstring) missed a second straight contest. It was the sixth game this year Pierce has been inactive due to injury. Ogunbowale was on the field for 15 snaps, while Mixon dominated backfield playing time as per usual. Since Mixon returned from an injury in Week 6, Ogunbowale has six rushes for 28 yards and has failed to catch any of his five targets.
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Texans' Dare Ogunbowale: Lining up as top backup Week 10
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Ogunbowale is expected to serve as the top backup to Joe Mixon in Week 10, as Dameon Pierce (hamstring) has been ruled out of Sunday night's game against the Lions.
Pierce will miss a second consecutive week, ceding the depth spots in the backfield to Ogunbowale and J.J. Taylor. There may not be much for either back to do, unless Mixon sustains an injury; in the Week 9 loss to the Jets, Ogunbowale and Taylor combined for four touches and three targets (no catches).
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Texans' Dare Ogunbowale: Quiet as top backup
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Ogunbowale had one carry for minus-1 yards and failed to catch any of his three targets in Thursday's 21-13 loss to the Jets.
Ogunbowale was Houston's top backup at running back but did little in his 29 offensive snaps. With a healthy Joe Mixon, no backup would be expected to do much on the ground, but it was as a receiver where Ogunbowale could have made an impression. However, Houston's offensive line allowed pressure to quarterback C.J. Stroud, which made for a disjointed passing attack.
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Texans' Dare Ogunbowale: Might be in line for backup role
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Ogunbowale could serve as the top backup running back in Thursday's game against the Jets, as Dameon Pierce (groin) did not practice Tuesday.
Ogunbowale would move up the depth chart if Pierce is unable to heal in time for Thursday's game. He filled in earlier this season when both Pierce and starter Joe Mixon missed time, with his most usage coming Week 5 versus Buffalo, when he handled 21 touches. That kind of volume is not expected for Ogunbowale at any point in the near future with Mixon back to full health, but the short week could present more opportunities for Ogunbowale if Pierce sits out.
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Texans' Dare Ogunbowale: Limited role again
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Ogunbowale had one carry for four yards and failed to catch his lone target in Sunday's 23-20 win over Indianapolis.
Ogunbowale was limited to one touch and one target for a second straight week. Ogunbowale did see more time on the field than Dameon Pierce, but both backs are playing cameo roles behind Joe Mixon, who continues to dominate Houston's backfield.
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Texans' Dare Ogunbowale: One touch in loss
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Ogunbowale had one carry for six yards and failed to catch his lone target in Sunday's 24-22 loss to the Packers.
Ogunbowale (15 snaps) and Dameon Pierce (seven snaps, two carries) were barely involved in Joe Mixon's second game back from an ankle injury. With both Mixon and Pierce healthy, Ogunbowale is not needed much as a runner, but his third-down and special-teams duties keep him on the gameday roster.
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Texans' Dare Ogunbowale: Locked in as No. 3 back
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Ogunbowale became the No. 3 option on the depth chart at running back for the Texans after Houston traded Cam Akers to Minnesota on Tuesday.
The Texans found themselves with a deep backfield following the returns of Joe Mixon and Dameon Pierce from multi-game absences due to injury in Week 6, so it made sense for Houston to part ways with Akers. Ogunbowale, who was on the field more than Akers last week, is seen as more of a receiving threat and provides greater versatility as a No. 3 back due to his ability to contribute on special teams.
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Texans' Dare Ogunbowale: Two touches in win
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Ogunbowale gained eight yards on two carries in Sunday's 41-21 win over New England in Week 6.
As expected, Ogunbowale (18 snaps) experienced a drop in playing time and touches due to the returns of both Joe Mixon and Dameon Pierce. Ogunbowale, who operates as a pass-catching back on third downs, was on the field more than Cam Akers (two snaps).
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Texans' Dare Ogunbowale: Gets 21 touches in Week 5 win
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Ogunbowale rushed 15 times for 30 yards and caught six of seven targets for 57 yards in Sunday's 23-20 win over the Bills.
Ogunbowale got a look as the lead back with Houston looking to get its running game going in the absence of Joe Mixon (ankle) and Dameon Pierce (hamstring). While Ogunbowale performed well as a pass catcher, Cam Akers was the team's most effective option on the ground, turning his nine carries into 42 yards and a touchdown. Ogunbowale's slow day as a rusher included being stuffed on fourth-and-1 in the red zone when the Texans were looking to build on an early 14-3 lead. Even if Mixon or Pierce are cleared to return in Week 6 against the Patriots, Ogunbowale should continue to play in passing situations, but he's unlikely to get so many opportunities on the ground again.
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Texans' Dare Ogunbowale: Season-high 26 snaps
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Ogunbowale caught both his targets for 28 yards in Sunday's 34-7 loss to Minnesota in Week 3.
Ogunbowale played 26 snaps, serving as the top backup to Cam Akers with both Joe Mixon (ankle) and Dameon Pierce (hamstring) sidelined. Houston also had British Brooks (three snaps) and J.J. Taylor (10) active for the game, but neither had a significant role in the offense.
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Texans' Dare Ogunbowale: Four touches in win
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Ogunbowale had two carries for three yards and caught both his targets for 20 yards in Sunday's 19-13 win over the Bears.
Ogunbowale took a back seat to Cam Akers, who was the primary beneficiary of Dameon Pierce's hamstring injury. While Ogunbowale out-snapped Akers (20-13), the latter had more touches (8-4). Akers also had a conspicuous fumble in the red zone as the Texans were preparing to take a two-touchdown lead late in the fourth quarter. Pierce's injury, plus the ankle injury Joe Mixon played through Sunday, could shuffle up roles in the Houston backfield ahead of Week 3's road matchup in Minnesota.
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Texans' Dare Ogunbowale: Targeted once in Week 1 win
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Ogunbowale caught his lone target for three yards in Sunday's 29-27 win over Indianapolis in Week 1.
Ogunbowale (13 snaps) and Dameon Pierce (nine) were the top backups to starter to Joe Mixon, who had a monster debut in Houston with 30 carries, 159 yards and a touchdown over 59 snaps. Behind Mixon, there was some uncertainty about the pecking order, but it looks like Cam Akers (inactive) is out for the moment and British Brooks played only on special teams.
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Texans' Dare Ogunbowale: Scores TD on Friday
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Ogunbowale rushed three times for 10 yards and a touchdown in Friday's 20-12 preseason win over Steelers.
The Texans couldn't get much going with their run game, but Ogunbowale had an easy four-yard scamper for a score. He was the second back in the game following Dameon Pierce, who started in place of Joe Mixon (quadriceps). That suggests Ogunbowale will be Houston's third back to start the season.
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Texans' Dare Ogunbowale: Starts Thursday
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Ogunbowale had three carries for 14 yards and caught both targets for 21 yards in Thursday's 21-17 preseason loss to the Bears.
Ogunbowale got the starting assignment Thursday, as Joe Mixon (quadriceps) and Dameon Pierce (coach's decision) were held out of the lineup. Given his experience in the system and work on special teams, Ogunbowales should be considered the leader for the third spot on the depth chart.
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Texans' Dare Ogunbowale: Serves as No. 2 back
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Ogunbowale had two carries for seven yards and caught his lone target for 13 yards in Houston's 34-10 playoff loss to Baltimore last Saturday. He finished the 2023 regular season with eight carries for 35 yards and two catches on seven targets for 18 yards over 12 games.
Ogunbowale eventually became the No. 2 back behind Devin Singletary, surpassing Dameon Pierce, who struggled all season. Had Singletary gotten hurt at any point leading up to the postseason, perhaps the rotation might have been different. Ogunbowale, who enters the offseason as an unrestricted free agent, has been a valuable depth piece and special-teams regular since joining the Texans ahead of the 2022 season. He's returned kickoffs, served on coverage teams and even converted a 29-yard field goal attempt as the emergency kicker in a Week 9 win over Tampa Bay. The organization will likely want him back for 2024.
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Texans' Dare Ogunbowale: Gets two carries in blowout loss
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Ogunbowale played 16 of 56 snaps on offense, and carried twice for seven yards and hauled in one of his two targets for a four-yard reception in Sunday's 30-6 loss to the Jets.
Both of Ogunbowale's targets and carries came in Houston's final two offensive possessions, when the team was trailing by three touchdowns. In more competitive contests, Ogunbowale's playing time will likely be contained mostly to special teams, while Devin Singletary and Dameon Pierce dominate the snaps at running back.
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Texans' Dare Ogunbowale: Serves as emergency kicker
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Ogunbowale successfully converted a 29-yard field-goal attempt in Sunday's 39-37 win over Tampa Bay in Week 9.
The running back was pressed into duty as a kicker when Ka'imi Fairbairn was unable to play in the second half due to a hamstring injury. Ogunbowale handled kickoffs, and his field goal gave Houston a 33-30 lead, but he was not given an opportunity to kick extra points as Houston went for two-point conversions on all four of its second-half touchdowns. If Fairbairn's injury lingers, the Texans are likely to add a traditional placekicker over using Ogunbowale in the role again.
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Texans' Dare Ogunbowale: Won't suit up in Week 3
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Ogunbowale (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Jaguars.
Ogunbowale made his season debut with the Texans in Week 2 after Mike Boone was a healthy scratch. Those roles will be reversed in Week 3, with Boone likely to serve as the Texans' third back on the depth chart.
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Texans' Dare Ogunbowale: Inactive for opener
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Ogunbowale (hamstring) is inactive for Sunday's game against Baltimore.
Ogunbowale has been dealing with a hamstring injury that forced the running back to miss Houston's last two preseason games. This leaves Dameon Pierce, Devin Singletary and Mike Boone in the Texans backfield for Sunday's contest.
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Texans' Dare Ogunbowale: Leads backs in finale
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Ogunbowale had 11 carries for 33 yards and caught five of six targets for five yards in Sunday's 32-31 win over the Colts in Week 18.
Ogunbowale led all running backs in yards in what was his most productive game since becoming a regular in the rotation Week 12. Houston finished out the season with Ogunbowale, Royce Freeman and Rex Burkhead in the backfield following the season-ending ankle injury to Dameon Pierce. There's zero chance any of the three will challenge a healthy Pierce for the top spot in 2023. Of the three, only Ogunbowale has a contact for next season. Adding to the dynamic, the Texans fired head coach Lovie Smith, so there should be many changes to an underwhelming offense come September.
