Jakob Johnson has a new team: The Stuttgart native is signing with the Houston Texans for one year.

This will be Jakob Johnson’s fourth year in the NFL: the fullback is signing with the Houston Texans for one year, entering his seventh NFL season.

After a disappointing 2024 season in which he only had a small amount of playing time with the New York Giants, a new opportunity is opening up for the Stuttgart native.

Jakob Johnson at the Houston Texans: The road is more difficult than for others

First of all, one thing seems clear to Johnson: He is entering a season with a handicap anyway. Not because he has any physical ailments, but rather because of his position. Johnson is a fullback.

And the fullback is no longer in high demand in the NFL. In 2023, for example, only 12 of 32 teams used a fullback at all, and only 10 teams had him play more than 10 percent of the snaps in the offense.

Not only do hardly any teams use a classic vorblocker anymore, but he is also almost certainly the only one of his species in the squad. However, the fact that Johnson has a roster spot until at least the start of the offseason is thoroughly positive news.

Jakob Johnson at the Houston Texans: The outlook is not rosy

In 2023, the Texans are still relying on an old acquaintance of the Stuttgarters: Andrew Beck. The two know each other from the New England Patriots: While Johnson came to Foxborough as a player in the International Pathway Program in 2019, Beck was signed as an undrafted rookie around the same time.

At the time, Johnson came out on top and had the edge over Beck before both left the franchise after the 2021 season.

A fullback is supposed to improve the running game, but neither Beck nor the running game in Houston in the aforementioned 2023 season. The Texans didn’t even gain four yards per run. The result: running back Dameon Pierce was demoted, fullback Beck was cut before the 2024 season.

The result: all of a sudden, the Texans averaged almost one more yard per run attempt. Do the Texans even need a fullback then? Especially one who played so poorly in 2024?

Jakob Johnson at the Houston Texans: The chance is called Special Team

No – and yes. Johnson is not only listed as a fullback, but also as a tight end. Of course, Johnson can’t compete with Travis Kelce or Brock Bowers. But when it comes to blocking, the German is still strong.

He is not above doing the dirty work. “It’s part of my job description,” he once said about the fullback’s main task: blocking.

Speaking of dirty work: this is done primarily on special teams. This is the chance for players to prove themselves in the preseason. Good special teams players are invaluable.

It is virtually impossible for Jakob Johnson to become a full-time starter for the Houston Texans. But he can fill a niche that can be needed depending on the opponent in certain phases of the game. Also on offense.

Starting in April, the native Swabian has the chance to convince the coaches that he can fill this niche.