The Houston Texans are shipping off to London for Sunday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, but they’re leaving two absolute hammers back home. Running back David Montgomery and safety Jalen Pitre are officially sidelined, a massive blow for the Texans as they head across the pond, especially after those guys got dinged up in last week’s 26-3 win over the Tennessee Titans.
The Running Back Room Shake-Up
Losing Montgomery, especially after he’s been battling a groin injury and was already considered “week-to-week,” is a tough pill to swallow. The guy was splitting carries with Woody Marks pretty evenly, a solid 55/45 clip, through the first month of the season. Now, Marks is the undisputed lead back. That’s a huge jump for him, and honestly, a big question mark for Houston’s ground game. They might even have to pull Jawhar Jordan up from the practice squad just to fill out the room, even though Dare Ogunbowale is on the main roster, his main gig is special teams. Texans offensive coordinator Nick Caley sounds hyped on Jordan, saying he’s “businesslike,” a “great dude that loves football and has a spark to him.” Hopefully, that spark translates to the field because they’re gonna need it.
Pitre’s Void and Dell’s Continued Absence
On the defensive side, safety Jalen Pitre also didn’t practice all week and is out with his “week-to-week” injury. This means rookie Kamari Ramsey gets a major step-up. Ramsey actually jumped in for Pitre at the nickel spot against the Titans after Pitre went down, and he was already getting snaps as an extra defensive back in dime packages against the Cowboys. Coach DeMeco Ryans isn’t shy about praising the kid, calling him a “versatile player, smart young man” who “stepped in there. He did a good job for us.” That’s good news, but losing a starter like Pitre is never easy. And just to pile on, wide receiver Tank Dell isn’t playing either. Dude hasn’t seen a regular season game since December 2024 because of a severe knee injury, even though he hit practice last week. Tough break all around.
So, the Texans are flying to London short-handed against the Jags. It’s a huge challenge, especially with Marks stepping into that lead back role and Ramsey having to anchor the nickel. Can they rally across the pond with these key guys out? We’re about to find out Sunday.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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