Perhaps nobody is more excited for David Montgomery to join the Houston Texans than rookie running back Woody Marks.
Last season, many envisioned a Texans’ backfield featuring the USC runner and Pro Bowler Joe Mixon splitting carries with All-Pro Nick Chubb. Instead, Houston never saw Mixon take the field due to a foot injury, while Chubb struggled to gain back his former Cleveland Browns persona, thus leaving Marks to take on an expanded role.
Now entering his second season, Marks won’t have to be the only focal point of Houston’s ground game. Enter Montgomery, who expects to be the next great name in the Texans’ running back history while becoming a staple of Nick Caley’s offense.
And Marks? He’s pumped to see the former Detroit Lions star in action.
“I’m very excited,” Marks told KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson. “Just looking back at the clips with him and Jahmyr Gibbs, it looked like they was having so much fun out there. When the running back room doing good and everybody blocking, it’s a party in the running back room. So, we’re looking to have that same joy him and Jahmyr Gibbs had bringing it down here in Houston.”
Initially signed to become the feature back with the Lions, Montgomery began splitting carries with Gibbs in 2023. Over time, “Knuckles” was relegated to the No. 2 role while “Sonic” sped up the depth chart and became one of the league’s best runners.
Last season, Montgomery was limited to 716 rushing yards and eight touchdowns while taking less than 30 percent of the team’s carries. Now in Houston, he plans to be the focal runner under Caley’s power-scheme formation and reclaim the role that made him a star for the Chicago Bears in 2022.
During his time in Detroit, Montgomery scored 33 touchdowns. In that same span, Houston’s rushing attack has combined for 32 rushing touchdowns, including 11 from Mixon, who is expected to be released because of cap savings.
Marks said watching the Motown City duo gel together gives him a sense of confidence that he and Montgomery can co-exist in the same backfield without one taking over entirely.
“Love him as a back, watched him a couple times, him and Jahmyr Gibbs, see how they complement each other,” Marks said. “We reached out to each other already, just time to get to work. Having another back in the backfield is always good. There’s less I can take off of my body and there’s less he can take off his body, and we’re just ready to get to work.”
Last season, Marks finished with a team-leading 703 rushing yards and three touchdowns. He also added 24 receptions for 208 yards and three scores to his rookie resume while helping Houston reach the divisional round for the third straight season.
Free agency begins on March 11, meaning Montgomery’s deal won’t be official until then. The expectation is for Houston to give him a new deal when he arrives for the 2026 season.
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Texans’ Woody Marks on David Montgomery trade: ‘Love him as a back!’
Reporting by Cole Thompson, Texans Wire / Texans Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
