The Houston Texans are staring down a brutal 0-3 start through the first three weeks of the season, and let’s be real, there’s some serious worry about where this team is headed. While Nico Collins’ return from injury should light a fire under the offense, everyone knows the run game absolutely has to get its act together, and the defense needs a massive turnaround too. Word from ESPN’s Dan Graziano is the Texans are finally ready to shake things up in the backfield. David Montgomery will still get some carries, but it’s gonna be a lot more Woody Marks from now on, all with the hope of sparking *something* out of that ground game.
Montgomery’s Struggles Pave the Way for Marks
Graziano’s report is pretty clear: “My sense of it is still that they’ll give more work to Woody Marks, as he has generally been running better and looking more explosive than offseason addition David Montgomery.” You can’t argue with what’s on the field. The Texans’ running back room has been a major disappointment this season. Montgomery, who looked like he was gearing up for a big 2026 after a strong Week 1 showing, has been seriously underwhelming in overall production across three games. We’re talking 37 carries for a measly 103 rushing yards, an absolutely horrible 2.8 yards per carry average. Marks hasn’t exactly lit the world on fire either, with 22 carries for 65 yards, averaging 3.0 yards per carry. But when the eye test speaks, teams listen.
The “Eye Test” Demands a Change
Despite the raw numbers not being wildly different, the “eye test” is screaming loud enough for the Texans to make a move. They’re ready to give Marks more work moving forward. This second-year running back for Houston might not become the undisputed lead back overnight, but his workload is definitely set to jump based on this report. Of course, the offensive line’s performance is a huge piece of this puzzle for any running game. But with Collins coming back into the lineup, there’s a genuine glimmer of hope for the Texans’ run game going forward.
Whether it’s the boost from Collins’ return, the pivot to Marks getting more touches, or simply the offensive line finally stepping up, the Texans are banking on their run game to see a significant improvement. It’s still early in the season, but 0-3 means every game from here on out carries massive weight. The team needs this run game to click. Let’s see if Marks can deliver on that explosive potential and give this Houston offense the jolt it needs to turn things around.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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