The Houston Texans walked away from the 2026 NFL trade deadline without touching the backfield, and that choice is hard to ignore after a season that already has its share of moving parts.
Houston did not make a splash, did not add an offensive piece at the buzzer, and did not bring in another running back. That matters because the Texans are trying to navigate the second half of the season without asking too much of C.J. Stroud, especially after a strong 44-22 win over the Los Angeles Chargers suggested the team is heading in the right direction.
The problem is simple: the Texans still need another running back.
That isn’t a shot at Woody Marks or David Montgomery. It’s about depth, durability and not forcing one player to absorb too much of the workload when the schedule tightens up.
Montgomery was supposed to give Houston a physical presence in the run game, someone who could handle the dirty work, push for tough yards and help keep the offense balanced. Instead, a groin injury suffered against the Tennessee Titans on Oct. 11 has kept him out. DeMeco Ryans called him week-to-week, and he was still sidelined against the Chargers.
That kind of injury is exactly why the Texans could have used insurance at the deadline. Groin issues are especially tricky for a back who depends on burst, sharp cuts and power through contact. Even when Montgomery is back on the field, there’s no guarantee he’ll be ready to take on a full load right away.
So Houston is betting on health. That’s a risky bet with so much football still ahead.
Marks has given the offense real value. He can run it and catch it, which gives offensive coordinator Nick Caley some flexibility. But there’s a difference between being a useful piece and being the guy who has to keep the whole backfield afloat.
The Texans should not have to lean on Marks so heavily that they wear him down just because Montgomery is unavailable. They needed another back who could step in, take meaningful snaps and keep the offense from taking a major step back if injuries hit again.
And that concern goes beyond Montgomery. If Marks takes a shot and misses time, the room gets thin in a hurry. That’s the kind of problem Houston does not want hanging over it in December.
From a roster-building standpoint, this was not about chasing a headline move. It was about adding a steady hand. A veteran with fresh legs, pass-blocking chops and short-yardage experience could have fit without changing the identity of the offense.
Nick Caserio may have decided the price was too high, and there’s something to be said for not forcing a deal just to say one was made. Draft capital matters. So does avoiding a bad rental.
Still, it’s fair to wonder whether Houston could have found a manageable option if it had looked hard enough.
Now the Texans are down to other routes. Free agents, the waiver wire and practice squads are still out there, but the deadline has passed and the easy path is gone.
The win over the Chargers was a good sign coming out of the bye week. It was the kind of performance Houston needed. But one strong result does not erase the need for more help in the backfield.
The Texans have a defense that can win games, a franchise quarterback in Stroud and enough offensive talent to stay in the mix in the AFC. What they don’t have, at least not yet, is enough running back depth to feel comfortable about the stretch run.
Houston stood pat at the deadline. Now it has to find another way to reinforce that room before the injury bug or an overworked running game makes the decision look even worse.
December football asks a lot. Two backs may not be enough.
In Other News...
Texans Made A Quiet O-Line Decision That Could Matter Later
Braden Smith surfaced as a trade candidate ahead of the deadline, with multiple teams showing interest in the veteran right tackle. Even so, the Texans chose not to move him, a small but telling decision for a team that has spent plenty of time trying to stabilize its offensive line while keeping enough depth on hand for the stretch run.
Smith has been out of the rotation in Houston, which made him an obvious name to watch when the deadline approached. But the Texans opted to hold onto him rather than turn him into draft capital, signaling that they valued insurance up front more than a future pick and leaving open the possibility that his presence could matter later if the line gets tested. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Get A Deshaun Watson Reminder Right Before Browns Visit
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For Houston, it adds another layer to a game that already had plenty of attention attached to it. Watsons return means the Texans will be seeing a familiar face under center again, and it comes with the kind of storyline that tends to follow him wherever he goes. The Browns have made their decision, and now the focus shifts to how Houston handles one more chapter in a long-running connection. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Stars Spent Their Off Day Doing Something Houston Will Love
An off day in Week 9 turned into a community day for several Texans, who spent part of their break giving back across Houston. In partnership with Kroger, the team helped distribute 1,000 Thanksgiving meals, with C.J. Stroud, Nico Collins, Henry Tootoo and DeMeco Ryans among those taking part in the effort.
Will Anderson Jr. also stayed busy, starting with a visit to Joint Reserve Base Ellington before later showing up at the Academy Snow Day event. It was the kind of behind-the-scenes community work that tends to resonate around Houston, especially when players are out front and interacting with fans and military personnel instead of resting up for the next game. [Read more 🡒]