Tension has been growing between Arian Foster and Ben Tate. While the drama has not spilled into the locker room, both Houston Texans running backs are not satisfied with the rotation currently in place. Frustrations were spotlighted on Monday night when Foster was preparing to enter the game and Tate cut him off, returning to the huddle for another play. Foster removed his helmeted, looking rather animated on the sideline.
Foster has reportedly been upset over his lack of playing time in the team's debut game against the San Diego Chargers. One of the better running backs in the league, Foster is accustomed to carrying the ground game for the Texans. However, that heavy work load has led to several injuries; most recently back injuries that kept him out of the preseason. Foster is not carrying to drama off the field, noting that it was simply just competiveness getting the best of him.
"They had a game plan going in about how much they wanted me to play and they were trying to ease me back into it, but my competitive nature, of course you want to be in," Foster said, via the Houston Chronicle. "It's getting to crunch-time, it's the fourth quarter and you want to be out there. But this is kind of how it played out. In my opinion, you would be concerned with a player that's happy he's not in there in the last minutes of the game when the game is on the line."
Foster finished the game with 18 touches for 57 yards. The Texans opted to throw the ball more than run it, resulting in Foster putting up 33 yards receiving as well. Tate finished with nine touches and 55 yards. Tate saw plenty of action in the preseason, which brought about the rotation in the first place.
Head coach Gary Kubiak intends on keeping the rotation fairly even for both running backs. As Foster eases back into play, the rotation should help keep him healthy while allowing the productivity to stay the same. For now, Foster appears to be ok with this.
"That has to be OK with me," Foster said. "Like I said, we're chess pieces. Coach makes the final ruling. But as a competitor, I've been in this league, I felt that I've played well throughout my tenure here. You want to be out there. You feel like you've earned that right to be out there. That's just where the frustration comes from."
Tate is not bending to the star that is Foster. He tells the running back every day that he is coming for the starter's job. Foster just laughs.
