The Texans’ snap counts from their Week 5 win over the Titans paint a pretty clear picture of how Houston handled a few key situations in Nashville.
The biggest takeaway came at running back. With David Montgomery limited to just nine snaps after suffering a groin injury in the first half, the Texans leaned hard on second-year back Woody Marks.
He was on the field for all but 10 offensive snaps and made the most of the workload, finishing with 19 total touches and 85 yards from scrimmage. If Montgomery is out for any length of time - and DeMeco Ryans said Monday that the veteran is now "week-to-week" - Marks looks lined up to stay front and center in the offense.
Houston also had to adjust on defense after Jalen Pitre exited in the second half with a shoulder injury. Like Montgomery, Pitre is also week-to-week heading into Week 6 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
When he went down, the Texans turned to fifth-round rookie Kamari Ramsey. Ramsey had barely registered on the defensive side through the first four weeks, but he could be in line for a more meaningful spot if Pitre misses time.
The move makes sense, too, since Ramsey has experience at both nickel and safety from his college days at USC.
Then there was Kayden McDonald, who finally got his first NFL action after returning from the ankle injury that kept him on injured reserve for the first four weeks. The second-round rookie was eased in with just 11 snaps, which suggests the Texans weren’t looking to rush him into a major role right away.
The workload was modest, but it gives him a starting point after sitting out the opening month. As he gets more reps, those opportunities figure to grow, and he could be starting next to Sheldon Rankins by the time the regular season winds down.
In Other News...
Titans Had An Even Rougher Day Than Texans Fans Realized
The Texans 26-3 win over Tennessee already stood out for how firmly Houston controlled the game, but one of the more unexpected side notes came from across the field. Cornerback CorDale Flott drew plenty of attention on social media for wearing a notably oversized helmet, turning an ordinary NFL broadcast moment into a running joke as the Titans tried to keep pace in a lopsided game.
Flotts afternoon got even worse after he suffered a chest injury and entered concussion protocol, ending his day and opening the door for Micah Robinson to step in. For Houston, the result was a needed first win to move to 1-4, while Tennessee left NRG Stadium still searching for its first victory at 0-5, with the on-field issues matched by an injury scare that only added to the rough day. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Win Came With A Strange Titans Moment Fans Couldn't Ignore
During Tennessees loss to the Texans, one unexpected sidelight had fans doing a double-take: cornerback CorDale Flotts helmet became a topic of jokes on social media. It was the kind of odd in-game detail that briefly cut through the usual division-rival noise, even as the Texans kept control of a game that mattered plenty in the AFC South race.
Flotts night also took a more serious turn when he suffered a chest injury and left the field, opening the door for teammate Micah Robinson to step in. For Tennessee, it was another rough chapter in a season that has opened with five straight losses, while Houston walked away with the win and an extra bit of postgame chatter it probably never expected. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Just Addressed A Line Problem Fans Have Been Watching
Baltimore finally took a swing at the middle of its protection issues, sending for center Cam Jurgens in one of several confirmed trades ahead of the 2026 deadline. The move comes amid a flurry of business around the league, with teams using draft-pick packages to patch holes, stabilize depth charts and absorb injury fallout as the stretch run approaches.
For Houston, the ripple effect is hard to ignore. The Texans landed Marvin Harrison Jr. from Arizona in the same wave of deals, a reminder that the deadline has already begun to reshape the AFC picture in real time. Baltimores decision to address the line should matter to anyone tracking that race, because protecting the offense has been a lingering concern and this move was aimed squarely at fixing it. [Read more 🡒]