On March 2, 2026, the Houston Texans’ backfield underwent a significant shakeup with the acquisition of running back David Montgomery.
Houston sent offensive lineman Juice Scruggs and two draft picks to Detroit for Montgomery. Head coach DeMeco Ryans targeted him to bring a more ‘downhill’ and physical identity to the offense.
Trading for Montgomery is not just about the running game; it is a direct investment in the efficiency of quarterback C.J. Stroud. The 2025 NFL season saw Stroud face a huge regression. But the move symbolizes simplicity to make Stroud’s life easier.
There are three ways that this move can elevate Stroud to the next level, and they will be impactful as the Texans move forward in 2026.
Red Zone Issues
The Texans’ offense often stalled at the goal line last season. They ranked 29th in the league for red zone rating (45%). Montgomery is a specialist in scoring touchdowns. He has 33 scores over the last three seasons and is arguably the best when it comes to finishing drives to put points on the board.
This will benefit Stroud because he will be able to play less ‘hero ball’ and lean more on the offensive running game. This will substantially reduce his interceptions, which have been costly in the red zone. He has been known to turn the ball over when he throws in tight coverage.
Play Action Game
The Texans ranked 29th in the NFL in rushing DVOA and averaged around 3.9 yards per carry. Montgomery will change that. When opposing coaches try to bring all of the primary defenders up to the line of scrimmage, Montgomery can still bully his way through opponents to score. But this can help Stroud out, too.
When defenses try to cheat to stop the run, it opens up deep receiving routes. Wideouts Nico Collins and Tank Dell are some of the best deep ball receivers in football and will thrive. Stroud loves the play-action game. By making his fakes more authentic due to the fact that Montgomery sells them well, receivers are also going to benefit from this.
Pass Protection
Rookie running back Woody Marks was forced into the starting lineup as a result of running back Joe Mixon’s season-ending injury. He was inconsistent in pass blocking, which led to Stroud taking numerous hits.
Montgomery is one of the NFL’s best pass-blocking running backs. He is terrific at picking up blitzing linebackers and has the physical capability to protect Stroud. Houston is currently rebuilding their offensive line due to the trades of Scruggs and Tytus Howard. But Montgomery can act as another blocker to keep Stroud upright.