Randall Cobb embracing challenge of replacing DeAndre Hopkins

The Houston Texans are a team that was arguably a piece or two away from being a legitimate Super Bowl title contender. They have a formidable defense led by J.J. Watt and a promising offense with Deshaun Watson under center and DeAndre Hopkins downfield.

After a shocking blockbuster trade to send Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for David Johnson, the team’s prospects for title contention don’t look as good as they once did. Newcomer Randall Cobb talks about the added pressure on the current receiving corps with arguably one of the league’s elite wide receiver now playing elsewhere, via ESPN.

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“I think obviously with DeAndre [Hopkins] leaving, it’s going to be a lot of eyes on all three of us [wide receivers Will Fuller, Kenny Stills and Cobb] to step up and make some plays,” Cobb said in a teleconference with Houston media on Friday. “In particular me, because a lot of people are looking at me coming in and being a replacement, even though me and DeAndre are two totally different types of receivers.”

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Cobb, along with Will Fuller and Kenny Stills, are all considered to be quite injury prone. All three of these wideouts are talented when healthy, but that doesn’t happen very often which sheds doubt on Houston’s chances of really competing when it comes to the offensive side of the football.

Even though the Texans may have taken a step back on paper, there’s no telling what may happen in the post-Hopkins era. Watson’s talent could be enough to get this team to the level they need, but who knows at this point in time. The pressure will be on him, as the last bonafide star left in Houston, to drag the team forward.