Woody Marks has a real chance to turn one week of extra work into something bigger for the Houston Texans.
With David Montgomery officially ruled out again for Week 7 because of a groin issue, the Texans are headed into their matchup with the New York Giants without the running back who opened the season on top of the depth chart. Montgomery also missed practice all week, so this will be his second straight game on the sideline.
That leaves Marks in line to handle the lead role again, just as he did against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Veteran Dare Ogunbowale is set up as the No. 2 option, especially after Jawhar Jordan was placed on the practice squad injured reserve.
Marks made the most of his chance last weekend. Against a Jacksonville defense that came into Week 6 with one of the league’s better run-stopping reputations, he carried the ball 15 times for 56 yards and added two catches for 23 yards. He looked more explosive than he had earlier this season and gave Houston some much-needed production as a receiver out of the backfield.
The snap count backed that up, too. Marks played 78% of Houston’s offensive snaps and was getting touches on more than a third of the plays he was on the field. That’s the kind of usage that tells you the Texans trust him.
Now he gets another clean runway. With Montgomery and Jordan unavailable, Marks is positioned for roughly 80% or more of the snaps, and the matchup only adds to the intrigue. The Giants rank bottom-five in the NFL in average yards allowed, which gives Marks a chance to top what he did a week ago.
If he delivers again, the conversation around Houston’s backfield could change quickly. Two strong performances in a row would give the Texans a real reason to rethink how they split the work once Montgomery is healthy again.
That’s where the bigger picture comes in. Since Montgomery’s Week 1 debut, when he scored three total touchdowns against the Buffalo Bills, he has struggled to make a consistent impact. He’s averaging a career low in rushing yards per game at 27.6, along with a career low 2.7 yards per carry.
A big Week 7 from Marks would only make it harder to put that workload back together the old way. The Texans may not be looking at a full changing of the guard yet, but if Marks keeps producing, he can absolutely force the issue after the bye.
In Other News...
Texans Catch A Huge Break Against Giants At Exactly The Right Time
The Texans will get an easier path on offense in Week 7 after the Giants ruled out defensive back Jevon Holland and tight end Theo Johnson because of injury. New York also enters the matchup dealing with the loss of linebacker Tremaine Edmunds for the rest of the season, a hit that strips another important piece from a defense that has helped keep the Giants in first place in the NFC East.
For Houston, the timing matters. The Texans are trying to make the most of every opportunity they can get, and facing a Giants team that will be short-handed in multiple spots gives them a better chance to press an advantage before New York heads into its Week 8 bye. Exactly how much that changes the matchup will be part of the story once the game kicks off. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Have A Huge Chance To Keep Rolling If 3 Things Hold
The Texans have suddenly turned their season around with two straight wins after an 0-4 start, and Week 7 against the Giants gives them a chance to keep building momentum. The formula has been clear enough: let C.J. Stroud keep pushing the ball downfield, stay disciplined with the football and keep the offense balanced enough to avoid becoming one-dimensional.
Houstons defense will also have a chance to lean into one of its strengths against a New York offense dealing with quarterback instability, with J.J. McCarthy now in the mix after Jameis Winston. The Texans have been getting after opposing passers all season, and if that pressure shows up again, it could go a long way toward extending this recovery run. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Get An Early Edge Against A Shorthanded Giants Team
The Giants injury list keeps growing ahead of their Week 7 matchup with the Texans, and the latest absences only make Houstons path look a little cleaner. New York has already been dealing with defensive issues, and now it has ruled out safety Jevn Holland after concussion protocol and tight end Theo Johnson because of a neck injury, two more hits to a roster that is thinning at an inconvenient time.
For a Texans team trying to stack wins and stay on schedule, that kind of news matters. A short-handed Giants group is easier to test on both sides of the ball, especially with Houston looking to take advantage early and avoid letting a patched-together opponent settle in. There is still plenty of football to play, but the opening edge already appears to be tilting toward the Texans. [Read more 🡒]