Texans Dealt Bad News After David Montgomery Injury Update

Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Texans Dealt Bad News After David Montgomery Injury Update

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Tate Mosher | Last updated Nov 12, 2026 2:00 PM ET

The Houston Texans have had quite the confounding NFL season through the first half of play. Entering Week 10, they are 3-5 and second place in the AFC South. They were 12-5 last year and reached the second round of the playoffs.

That season was on the backs of their elite defense, a unit that has totally dropped off this season. They rank 18th in the NFL in points allowed per game. However, their offense has picked up a lot of that slack.

Most of the production has been through the air by fourth-year quarterback C.J. Stroud. After a five-interception performance in last year’s divisional round loss to the New England Patriots, he has turned things around.

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) hands off to running back David Montgomery (32) Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Over the offseason, the Texans attempted to get him some help by signing running back David Montgomery to a two-year, $16.5 million contract. The deal has not gone to plan through the first half of 2026.

Montgomery has played in just five games, carrying the ball 52 times for 138 yards on the ground. That 2.7 yards per carry is easily the lowest of his career. He has not played in a month now due to a groin pull.

The 29-year-old returned to practice Thursday, with head coach Demeco Ryans not specifying when he could return to game action. That is good news, but a fellow Houston RB, Woody Marks, took practice off due to a knee injury.

#Texans running backs Woody Marks dealt with mild knee discomfort Wednesday in practice and didn’t finish practice for precautionary reasons, per league source. Not practicing so far today. Team taking wait-and-see approach on his status
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) November 12, 2026

Aaron Wison of KPRC 2 reported both of the news instances. Marks had been serving as RB1 since Montgomery went down, but now it is not clear if he can go for Week 10. His mild knee discomfort carries a “wait and see” approach from the coaching staff.

Marks first practiced in limited capacity on Wednesday, but now did not show at all for Thursday’s practice. That timeline does not bode well, as the Texans take on the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.

If both are out for Sunday’s game, it would be journeyman Emari Demercado slated to pick up the RB1 role. He has had an inefficient 2026 with the Dallas Cowboys and then Texans, but was solid with the Arizona Cardinals from 2023-2025.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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