Texans coping with DeAndre Hopkins' absence same way Steelers are moving on from Antonio Brown

This team had a generational talent at wide receiver who was suddenly traded during the offseason. Now that franchise is trying to figure out if any of the other receivers on the roster are capable of being a legit No.1 target.

No, I’m not flashing back to the 2019 Pittsburgh Steelers, after dealing Antonio Brown to the Raiders. I’m looking at the 2020 Houston Texans after sending DeAndre Hopkins to Arizona.

Without Hopkins, Houston is 0-2 to start 2020. The Texans come to Heinz Field Sunday. So far, some of their pass catchers have flashed. But they are looking for one to be a true lead option for quarterback Deshaun Watson.

Seem familiar, Pittsburgh? It should. We watched the Steelers receiving corps go through those challenges without Brown around to draw defensive attention last year.

Former Notre Dame star Will Fuller was a bright spot for the Texans during a 34-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 1. He had eight catches for 112 yards.

However, in Week 2 versus the Baltimore Ravens, he had one carry and no targets. There is some belief that Fuller was suffering from a hamstring injury. But, on Monday, Texans coach Bill O’Brien downplayed that angle and said that the team “needs to do a better job of getting him the ball.”

Brandin Cooks filled the void. He had only 20 yards on two catches in Week 1. But he followed that effort with a 95-yard total on five receptions in Game 2. Ten-year veteran Randall Cobb is in the mix as well. He has 82 yards on seven catches.

“Fuller is capable of stretching you vertically as is Cooks,” Tomlin said of Watson’s receivers. “I’ve got a lot of respect for Randall Cobb. He’s a tough guy. He’s a football player first. He can do a lot of the things at the wide receiver position besides catching the football that provides quality balance to an offense.”

As for running back David Johnson, he’s finding his footing in Houston. He’s averaging five yards per carry but has just 22 rushes in two weeks for a total of 111 yards. And some of the pass catching ability he flashed in Arizona has yet to manifest with the Texans as he has only 48 yards on five catches in two weeks.

“He’s good in the running game. He’s good in the passing game. I’ve got a lot of respect for his talents,” Tomlin said of Johnson.

Meanwhile, unlike Brown flaming out with the Raiders (and then the New England Patriots), so far with the Cardinals, Hopkins has been fantastic. He already has 22 catches for 219 yards and a touchdown.

The difference between Houston’s attempts to overcome a loss of a star receiver and what the Steelers went through last year is that they’ve still got a Pro Bowl quarterback in uniform to help them guide the offense.

“Watson himself is going to be a ridiculous challenge not only in terms of his quarterbacking ability and his arm talent but his ability to improvise, his ability to extend plays, his leadership skills. He’s battle-tested,” Tomlin said.

Tomlin addressed a number of other topics concerning his own team during his Tuesday press conference. Among them, their efforts to avoid penalties, the health of guard David DeCastro, and the emerging impact of rookie wide receiver Chase Claypool.

Steelers beat reporter Joe Rutter and I discuss all those topics and more in Wednesday’s “Breakfast With Benz” podcast.

Listen: Tim Benz and Joe Rutter discuss how the Steelers match up against the Texans