Jawhar Jordan Ignites Texans’ Backfield in Statement Win Over Cardinals
The Houston Texans didn’t just win on Sunday-they announced themselves. With a 40-20 blowout over the Arizona Cardinals, the Texans improved to 9-5 and further solidified their playoff push.
And while the usual standouts like C.J. Stroud, Nico Collins, and the league’s top-ranked defense all did their part, the spotlight unexpectedly shifted to a new name in the Texans’ backfield: Jawhar Jordan.
In a game that was expected to be business as usual, Jordan brought something different-an electric jolt to a running game that had been searching for answers.
A New Spark in the Running Game
With Nick Chubb sidelined due to a rib injury suffered last week against the Chiefs, Houston needed someone to step up. Initially, it looked like Cody Schrader might get that opportunity, but after being waived on Saturday, the door opened for Jordan, a second-year back elevated from the practice squad.
What happened next wasn’t just a solid debut-it was a statement.
Jordan carried the ball 15 times for 101 yards, giving Houston its first 100-yard rusher of the season. That’s not just a milestone-it’s a breakthrough.
The last time a Texans running back hit the century mark in a regular-season game? Week 13 of 2024, when Joe Mixon did it against Jacksonville.
Since then, the Texans’ ground game has been more supplementary than central. But Jordan flipped that script.
His impact started subtly. With Woody Marks dealing with what appeared to be an ankle issue early on, Jordan began getting touches in the second quarter.
The first few carries were modest-short gains, a couple of tough yards here and there. But then came the moment that changed the game.
Midway through the third quarter, Jordan burst through the line and ripped off a 50-yard run that brought the NRG Stadium crowd to its feet. It wasn’t just the distance-it was the burst, the vision, the decisiveness.
He didn’t just hit the hole; he owned it. That run set up the Texans deep in Arizona territory and marked the beginning of a dominant stretch for the offense.
Jordan capped his day late in the fourth quarter with a five-yard run up the middle that pushed him past the 100-yard mark and helped Houston move the chains again in the red zone. It was a fitting exclamation point on a performance that felt like more than just a one-off.
Earning His Moment
Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans had nothing but praise for Jordan after the game.
“Jawhar did an outstanding job for us,” Ryans said. “He ran the ball very well, efficient, showed the explosiveness, showed the speed that he has and we’ve seen in practice.
It just shows whenever your number is called, are you ready for that opportunity. No one knows until you get that moment, and it’s about taking advantage of that moment and not looking back.
And I thought Jawhar handled it very well.”
That “moment” Ryans is talking about? Jordan didn’t just seize it-he owned it.
And now, the question isn’t whether he belongs in the rotation. It’s how big his role should be moving forward.
A Backfield in Motion
With Chubb still recovering and Marks potentially limited by injury, there’s a real opportunity for Jordan to carve out a more permanent spot in the Texans’ offense. And even when the backfield returns to full health, Jordan’s performance might force Houston’s hand.
This wasn’t just a case of taking advantage of a soft defense-though Arizona’s 19th-ranked run defense certainly didn’t help itself. It was about how Jordan ran: with purpose, with speed, and with the kind of energy that lifts an entire offense.
Houston has been looking for a true one-two punch in the backfield. Sunday may have been the first glimpse of what that could look like. If Jordan continues to build on this performance, the Texans might have found the perfect complement to Marks-and a dangerous new dimension to their offense heading into the final stretch of the season.
So, is Jawhar Jordan ready for a larger role? Based on what we saw Sunday, the better question might be: How can they afford not to give him one?