The Texans are working out former Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears running back Artavis Pierce, according to a league source.
The Texans are also working out running back Austin Walter. Walter has played for the New York Jets, New York Giants and the San Francisco 49ers. He played collegiately at Rice.
He rushed for 101 yards and one touchdown on 26 carries last season for the Jets.
The Texans are also working out former Indianapolis Colts and Washington State running back Max Borghi and former Boise State running back Cyrus Habibi-Likio.
Pierce signed with the Bears in 2020 after going undrafted out of Oregon State.
He was promoted from their practice squad and scored his first NFL touchdown in a win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on a three-yard run.
He rushed for nine yards on three carries against the Minnesota Vikings previously.
He was cut by the Bears last season and signed to their practice squad and released in December before joining the Browns' practice squad in January.
He has rushed for 34 career yards, averaging 5.7 yards per carry with 27 kick return yards and two tackles on special teams.
At Oregon State, Pierce (5-foot-11, 208 pounds) rushed for 2,127 career yards to rank 10th in school history. He averaged 5.8 yards on 366 carries, tying for the top mark in program history. He rushed for 15 touchdowns and caught 74 passes for 578 yards and two scores.
He was a two-time All-Pac 12 academic honorable mention selection.
He rushed for 873 yards and six touchdowns as a senior.
Aaron Wilson is a Pro Football Network reporter and analyst and a contributor to Sports Talk 790.
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