Houston Texans Still Need Another Running Back After Quiet 2026 NFL Trade Deadline

The 2026 NFL trade deadline has come and gone, and the Houston Texans decided to keep their hands in their pockets. No blockbuster deals, no last-minute offensive additions and, most importantly, no additional help in the backfield. While the Texans have shown signs of turning things around, especially following their impressive 44-22 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers, I still believe Houston missed an opportunity to address one of its biggest offensive concerns.

Now, before anybody jumps into my mentions, this isn't a knock on Woody Marks or David Montgomery. It's more about having enough ammunition to make it through the second half of the season without putting the entire offensive workload on C.J. Stroud's shoulders.

The Texans Are Gambling on Montgomery's Health

When Houston brought in David Montgomery, the expectation was that he would provide a physical presence in the backfield. A veteran running back who could grind out tough yards, move the chains and give the offense some much-needed balance.

Unfortunately, injuries have thrown a wrench into those plans.

Montgomery has been dealing with a groin injury suffered against the Tennessee Titans on Oct. 11. Head coach DeMeco Ryans described the veteran as week-to-week, and Montgomery remained sidelined against the Chargers.

That's where my concern comes into play.

Groin injuries can be tricky, especially for a running back who relies on explosive cuts, acceleration and fighting through contact. Even when Montgomery returns, there's no guarantee he'll immediately be ready to handle a full workload.

Houston had an opportunity at the trade deadline to give itself a little insurance. Instead, the Texans are betting on Montgomery getting healthy and staying healthy.

That's a pretty big gamble considering how much football is left to play.

Woody Marks Can't Carry the Entire Backfield

Let me be clear: I'm a fan of what Woody Marks brings to this offense.

The young running back has shown flashes of being a legitimate offensive weapon. His ability to contribute as a runner and receiver gives offensive coordinator Nick Caley some flexibility when putting together the game plan.

But there's a difference between being a talented running back and being asked to carry an entire backfield.

The Texans shouldn't have to run Marks into the ground just because Montgomery is unavailable. Houston needs another dependable option who can step in, take meaningful carries and keep the offense moving without a significant drop-off.

Think about it. What happens if Marks takes a hard hit and has to miss a game or two? Suddenly, a backfield that already has injury concerns becomes an even bigger problem.

That's not a situation I want to see the Texans dealing with in December.

Adding another running back wouldn't have been about making a flashy move. It would have been about complementing what this team already does well.

I understand that general manager Nick Caserio isn't going to make a trade just for the sake of making one. Draft capital matters, and overpaying for a rental player isn't necessarily smart business.

However, I have a hard time believing Houston couldn't have explored an affordable option to strengthen its running back room.

The Texans didn't need to go shopping for an All-Pro. A reliable veteran with fresh legs, pass-blocking ability and experience in short-yardage situations could have made a difference.

Now that the deadline has passed, Houston's options are more limited. The Texans can still explore free agents, the waiver wire or other teams' practice squads, but finding an immediate contributor becomes a little more complicated.

The Texans' win over the Chargers was exactly the kind of performance this team needed coming out of the bye week. But one big win shouldn't distract Houston from the holes that still need to be addressed.

I like Montgomery. I like Marks. What I don't like is the idea of Houston entering the most important stretch of the season without another dependable running back in the mix.

The Texans have a defense that can win football games, a franchise quarterback in Stroud and enough offensive talent to make things interesting in the AFC.

So why not give them a little more help?

Houston kept their hands in their pockets at the trade deadline. Now, the front office needs to find another way to reinforce the backfield before an injury or an inconsistent running game makes that decision come back to haunt them.

Because when December football rolls around, you're going to want more than two sets of legs carrying the load.