Texans Rule Out David Montgomery vs. Browns; Woody Marks to Lead Backfield Again
Houston's veteran running back won't travel to Cleveland and will miss a fourth straight game with a groin injury, while cornerback Jaylin Smith stays on injured reserve
The Houston Texans will be without running back David Montgomery again on Sunday. The team announced Saturday that Montgomery (groin) and cornerback Jaylin Smith (hamstring) will not travel to Cleveland and have been ruled out of the Week 10 game against the Browns.
Houston Texans Week 10 Injury Report Updates: RB David Montgomery (groin) and CB Jaylin Smith (hamstring) will not travel with the team to Cleveland and have been ruled out for Week 10 at the Browns. T Braden Smith has been added to the Week 10 Injury Report with an illnessView on X →
Texans PR (@TexansPR): Houston Texans Week 10 Injury Report Updates: RB David Montgomery (groin) and CB Jaylin Smith (hamstring) will not travel with the team to Cleveland and have been ruled out for Week 10 at the Browns. T Braden Smith has been added to the Week 10 Injury Report with an illness
Montgomery drew a questionable tag Friday after logging a full practice, which raised hopes he was ready to return from the groin injury that knocked him out of Houston's Week 5 game. Instead, Sunday will be his fourth straight missed game. He has 138 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 52 carries this season.
Woody Marks will again lead the backfield. Marks has at least 15 carries in each of his last four games, turning 67 attempts into 254 yards (3.8 per carry) and adding eight catches for 67 yards over that stretch. Emari Demercado is the backup, and Houston elevated veteran Dare Ogunbowale from the practice squad for depth.
Smith had a questionable designation while in his practice window on injured reserve, but he won't be activated this week. The Texans did activate linebacker Jake Hummel, who has been out since Week 1 with a groin injury, and elevated linebacker Chad Muma. Right tackle Braden Smith was added to the report as questionable with an illness.
It's another blow to a short-handed roster. Houston (3-5) had already ruled out Danielle Hunter, Azeez Al-Shaair and Marvin Harrison Jr. for the trip to face a 5-4 Browns team that plans to start Deshaun Watson. Kickoff at Huntington Bank Field is 10 a.m. PT Sunday. Montgomery's next chance to return comes four days later, when the Texans host the Colts on Thursday night.