NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- After a run during his 104-yard performance on Sunday, Carlos Hyde went to the sideline to remind himself of what had gotten him there.
“I just told myself, ‘Just be patient,” Hyde said. ‘Be patient.’”
And in the fourth quarter, Hyde’s mindset paid off when he ran for a 10-yard touchdown that gave the Texans a 21-14 lead. Hyde credited his offensive line -- including a key block by right tackle Chris Clark -- and the way he was able to find a lane to the end zone.
That run also gave him more than 1,000 rushing yards for the season for the first time in his career. Hyde now has 1,030 rushing yards in 15 games. His previous high was 988 rushing yards in 2016.
“It’s huge to go for 1,000 for the first time,” Hyde said. “It’s been a long journey for me. And to come back and have a big year like I’m having now, it’s huge.”
Hyde has had to be patient as he found the right situation since leaving the San Francisco 49ers after the 2017 season. After signing with the Cleveland Browns, the former Ohio State star was traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the middle of last season. He signed with the Kansas City Chiefs during the offseason, and then was traded to the Texans for tackle Martinas Rankin just before the start of the 2019 season. It was one of four trades the Texans made at the cutdown deadline on Aug. 31, and it certainly wasn't the one that gained the most attention. But it's one that made a big impact.
“He runs hard,” head coach Bill O’Brien said. “I mean, he gets his pads down. He’s got good vision. He’s a hard guy to tackle, especially when he gets going and he has been like that all year.”
Hyde said he “didn’t really have any expectations" coming into Houston, who traded for Hyde after starting running back Lamar Miller tore his ACL in the Texans’ third preseason game. But as soon as Hyde arrived in his new home, he was “locked in.”
“I was going to come in here and do my job,” Hyde said. “Whatever role I needed to play, I was going to do whatever I had to do. But this feels good, though. To be in the position I am today, to finally rush for 1,000 yards. It definitely feels good.”
“It was just a matter of time until I fell into the right place. God put me here, and things have just been working out for me. I know, just being a running back, patience is part of the game.”
Hyde gained his 104 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries. It was his seventh career game with 100 or more rushing yards, and his third this season.
“He deserves all the credit, he deserves more hype, and he deserves more touches,” quarterback Deshaun Watson said. “So, we’re definitely going to ride behind Carlos and ride behind our O-line, because they’re doing a great job for us.”