We’ve been keeping tabs on the backfield situation in Houston, where Arian Foster, Steve Slaton and Ben Tate are expected to compete for the lead role.

Foster is atop the Texans’ depth chart, and was already making believers during the offseason. Slaton is healthy again. Tate, meanwhile, sounds like he has his work cut out for him, a typical position for many NFL rookies.

“He’s up and down right now,” Texans coach Gary Kubiak said of Tate. “He’s every bit the talent that we drafted. He’s learning to be a pro. He has to catch up because he missed a lot time because he missed OTAs. He needs to know to get his motor going when he leaves out of the locker room and not 30 minutes into practice. He’s working and he’s giving us what he’s got. He could help this team if he continues to grow up.”

Clearly, it’s never a good thing when an NFL head coach uses the words “grow up” when talking about a rookie. Sounds like Tate has some work to do before he makes that immediate impact many expected.

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