Texans Announce Dare Ogunbowale Reunion After 0-3 Start

The Houston Texans fell 19-17 to the Colts despite forcing three turnovers and taking a 17-16 lead late in the fourth quarter. The offense managed only 223 total yards and 70 rushing yards, continuing a rough start for C.J. Stroud and the ground game. Houston now turns toward Dallas in Week 4 with very little room for another slow offensive performance.

Surprisingly, Houston signed the veteran running back Dare Ogunbowale directly off Las Vegas’ practice squad on September 29. He had not appeared in a game for the Raiders this season, making his return an immediate depth move for a Texans backfield that has struggled to establish consistency.

Ogunbowale has been a reliable special-teams player and locker-room presence during his previous Houston stint. He played 1,058 special-teams snaps and 730 offensive snaps across 63 games with the Texans. That experience could be particularly useful while Houston sorts out the roles of David Montgomery and rookie Woody Marks.

The reunion could give DeMeco Ryans another dependable option. Ogunbowale does not need to become the featured back to matter. His ability to handle limited offensive work, contribute on special teams and step in if injuries hit gives Houston some insurance heading into a critical Week 4 matchup with Dallas. The Texans’ immediate goal is to get more out of an offense that has struggled badly through three games.

Dare Ogunbowale Is Back in Houston After Four Seasons Away

Ogunbowale originally joined the Texans as an undrafted free agent in 2017 and returned to Houston in 2022. He remained with the team through the 2025 season, appearing in all 17 games last year. The Texans’ decision to bring him back less than two months after he left for Las Vegas shows how much the organization still values his versatility.

Across his 63 games with Houston, Ogunbowale recorded 91 carries for 295 yards and three total touchdowns. He also caught 51 passes for 396 yards and one touchdown during those four seasons from 2022-25. His biggest role was on special teams, where he logged more than 1,000 snaps.

Houston’s offense has been the bigger concern, but the defense has produced enough plays to keep the team within reach. The Texans forced three turnovers against Indianapolis, while Will Anderson Jr. recorded 2.5 sacks, three tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. The defense ultimately could not stop the Colts’ final drive, which ended with Spencer Shrader’s 53-yard game-winning field goal.

The Texans host the Cowboys on Sunday, in Week 4. Houston was also 0-3 last season before recovering, winning 12 of its next 14 games and reaching the playoffs. NFL.com notes that only seven teams in league history had reached the postseason after starting 0-3 before Houston joined that group last season.