David Montgomery Ruled Out for Texans vs. Browns With Groin Injury

David Montgomery Ruled Out for Texans vs. Browns With Groin Injury

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Houston Texans running back David Montgomery will miss Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns after being ruled out with a groin injury, Yahoo Sports reported.

The veteran back will not travel with the team to Cleveland, leaving the Texans to adjust their backfield rotation ahead of the 1 p.m. ET kickoff at Huntington Bank Field. While Montgomery had been listed as questionable following practices on Thursday and Friday, the team officially made the decision to sideline him on Saturday.

This absence marks the fourth game Montgomery has missed since sustaining the injury during a Week 5 victory over the Tennessee Titans. The injury disruption comes at a critical juncture for a Houston offense looking to stabilize its ground game.

Houston texans running back david montgomery arrives for the nfl football teams practice thursday may in houston photoashley

With Montgomery unavailable, the Texans have signed Dare Ogunbowale to the active roster after promoting him from the practice squad. The 32-year-old Ogunbowale previously returned to Houston from the Las Vegas Raiders’ practice squad on September 29 and has appeared in 63 games for the franchise, totaling 295 yards on 91 carries.

Ogunbowale is expected to serve as an option alongside Emari Demercado and Woody Marks. Marks has increasingly taken on a heavy workload in recent weeks, rushing for 254 yards on 67 carries over his last four appearances. His recent performance included helping Houston secure a 44-22 win over the Los Angeles Chargers, a game in which the team recorded 104 rushing yards.

The loss of Montgomery is particularly costly given the investment Houston made to acquire him. In March, the Texans traded offensive lineman Juice Scruggs, a fourth-round pick, and a 2027 seventh-round pick to the Detroit Lions to secure his services.

Montgomery Out; Marks Set to Lead Texans Backfield — TrendsNewsDrop

Houston initially sought Montgomery to improve a rushing attack that struggled last season, finishing tied for 29th in the league with 3.9 yards per carry. However, Montgomery’s production has been hampered by his recent injury struggles.

To accommodate these roster moves, the Texans waived rookie defensive end Sabastian Harsh. The team also receives some relief on the defensive side as linebacker Jake Hummel returns from injured reserve after missing time since Week 1 with a groin injury, while Chad Muma has been elevated from the practice squad.

The injury report remains active for other key players. Cornerback Jaylin Smith will not travel due to a hamstring injury, and tackle Braden Smith is currently listed as questionable because of an illness.

Houston enters Sunday’s matchup with a 3-5 record.

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