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Is David Montgomery Really the Right Fit for the Houston Texans?
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- Is David Montgomery Really the Right Fit for the Houston Texans?
When the Houston Texans brought David Montgomery into the building, the idea made plenty of sense.
Houston wanted a veteran running back who could bring toughness, physicality and some stability to the backfield. Montgomery has made a career out of running through contact, picking up tough yards and giving an offense a dependable option when things get ugly.
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But seven games into the Texans' 2026 season, I think it's fair to ask the uncomfortable question:
Is David Montgomery actually the right fit for this Texans offense?
My answer right now is, it's complicated.
Montgomery can still help this football team. But if Houston is expecting him to be the running back who transforms its ground game, I'm not convinced that's going to happen.
The Numbers Aren't Helping His Case
Let's start with what we can actually measure.
Montgomery has 52 carries for 138 rushing yards and two touchdowns this season, averaging just 2.65 yards per carry. He has also contributed 67 receiving yards and a touchdown through the air.
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That isn't enough production from a veteran running back expected to help stabilize an offense.
His best rushing performance came in Week 1 against Buffalo, when he carried the ball 20 times for 60 yards and scored twice. Since then, he hasn't reached 35 rushing yards in a game.
Now, I'm not putting all of that on Montgomery.
Running backs don't operate in a vacuum. Blocking matters. Play-calling matters. Game situation matters. When an offensive line isn't consistently creating space, even a good running back can look ordinary.
But eventually production has to enter the conversation. And 2.65 yards per carry isn't moving the needle.
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Houston Might Need Something Different
Here's where I think the bigger question comes into play.
Montgomery's style is built around patience and physicality. He's a 230-pound back who can grind between the tackles and punish defenders.
There's absolutely a place for that. But does Houston need its running game to be more explosive?
I think so.
The Texans need somebody who can hit the crease and turn what looks like a four-yard run into 20. They need a back who can make a linebacker miss in space and create something when the blocking isn't perfect.
That's where the conversation surrounding the Texans' backfield gets interesting.
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Montgomery may be a good football player without necessarily being the best stylistic fit for what Houston needs offensively.
Those are two completely different things.
The Injury Question Can't Be Ignored
Availability has also become part of the discussion.
Montgomery missed Houston's Week 7 game against the New York Giants because of a groin injury after sitting out all three practices leading into the game.
Houston also played without him against Jacksonville the previous week, according to his season game log.
For a Texans team sitting at 2-5 entering its bye-week stretch, every offensive piece matters. Houston doesn't have much room left for waiting around and hoping everything eventually clicks.
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That's especially true at running back. The Texans need consistency.
Montgomery Could Still Have a Role
This doesn't mean Houston should give up on Montgomery. Actually, I think the opposite. The Texans just might need to redefine his role. Instead of asking Montgomery to carry the running game, use him as part of it.
Let him be the physical back.
Let him handle short-yardage situations.
Let him wear down defenses late in games when Houston has a lead.
Let him help in pass protection and give the offense a veteran presence in the backfield.
But Houston shouldn't force the offense through Montgomery simply because of his résumé. The NFL is about production, not reputation.
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If another running back gives Houston more explosiveness or fits the offense better, then that player deserves opportunities too.
It's Also an Offensive-Line Question
There's another part of this conversation Texans fans shouldn't overlook. Before deciding Montgomery is the problem, Houston has to determine whether the running game itself is functioning properly.
If defenders are consistently meeting the running back near the line of scrimmage, changing running backs isn't magically going to solve everything.
Houston has to create better running lanes. The coaching staff has to figure out which concepts fit its personnel. And the Texans have to establish some kind of identity offensively.
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Are they trying to become a physical downhill rushing team?
Are they trying to spread defenses out?
Are they building around explosive plays?
Right now, the offense sometimes feels like it's searching for that identity. And Montgomery might be caught in the middle of that search.
My Two Pennies
So, is David Montgomery the right fit for the Houston Texans?
Yes, but maybe not in the role Houston originally envisioned.
I still believe Montgomery can contribute to this team. He's experienced, physical and capable of doing some of the dirty work an offense needs.
But 138 rushing yards through his first five appearances and an average below three yards per carry isn't enough to convince me that Houston should build its rushing attack around him.
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The Texans need explosiveness. They need versatility. Most importantly, they need production. Montgomery doesn't necessarily need to disappear from the offense.
His role may simply need to change. Because at 2-5, Houston is past the point of worrying about who was supposed to be the answer.
The second half of this season needs to be about finding out who actually is the answer.
