Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans announced the update regarding Montgomery’s status, triggering a significant shift in Houston’s offensive game plan as the team prepares to cross the Atlantic for the international contest at Wembley Stadium. Montgomery’s injury occurred early in the team’s Week 5 matchup against the Tennessee Titans, a game the Texans ultimately secured in a dominant 26-3 victory.
During that contest, Montgomery logged just nine snaps before being forced to exit the field due to the groin issue. His sudden departure cleared the runway for Marks, a second-year player out of USC, to command the heaviest workload of his professional career thus far. Seizing the opportunity, Marks took the field for an overwhelming 56 of the Texans’ 66 offensive snaps. He capitalized on the extensive playing time by grinding out 62 yards on 15 carries, while also showing his proficiency as a pass-catcher by hauling in all four of his targets for an additional 23 yards.
With Montgomery projected to miss at least Sunday’s crucial London showdown against Jacksonville—and potentially facing a multi-week absence depending on his rehabilitation progress—Marks is in line to see a near-replica of the heavy touch count he enjoyed in the second half against Tennessee. The timing aligns with the trajectory of Marks’ career since he entered the league. In May 2025, Marks signed a four-year, $5.2 million contract with the Texans, establishing long-term roots in Houston’s backfield plans.
Evaluated coming out of the college ranks, Marks checked in at 5-foot-10 and 207 pounds. While analysts noted during his draft evaluation that he might not possess the dense anchor or raw power required to exclusively thrive on traditional interior power-blocking concepts, his exceptional utility as a pass-catcher immediately set him apart. During his collegiate career, particularly during his time at Mississippi State, Marks logged significantly more passing-down snaps than the vast majority of running backs experience across four full collegiate seasons. He then transitioned into a true three-down workhorse during his lone season at USC, where he showcased his dynamic abilities by rumbling for 1,133 yards while maintaining an impressive clip of 5.7 yards per carry.
Though conventional wisdom suggested that working as an immediate workhorse right out of the gate in the NFL would be an uphill battle, Marks’ path to meaningful snaps materialized rapidly. Earlier in his career trajectory, when veteran running back Joe Mixon struggled to recover from a lingering offseason foot and ankle injury, Marks found himself thrust into an immediate competition for backfield touches alongside names like Nick Chubb, Dameon Pierce, and Dare Ogunbowale.
As the 2026 NFL season has unfolded, Marks has steadily carved out a role, moving from a complementary piece to a trusted option. Over recent weeks, his usage has fluctuated, but the productivity has steadily shown flashes. In a Week 1 loss to the Buffalo Bills, Marks split snaps roughly 50-50 with Montgomery, turning nine carries into 42 yards while catching one pass. A couple of weeks later, against the Cincinnati Bengals, he rushed eight times for eight yards but made his presence felt heavily in the passing game by securing five catches out of six targets for 27 yards.
Marks also began finding paydirt with consistency. In a Week 3 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts, he converted five carries into 15 yards and a rushing touchdown, while also chipping in a six-yard reception and contributing on special teams with two kickoff returns for 52 yards. He found the end zone again shortly after during a narrow 34-30 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, rushing six times for 22 yards and a touchdown. Capping off this stretch prior to Montgomery’s injury, Marks turned in his efficient performance against the Titans, establishing himself as the clear focal point of the ground attack once the veteran starter went down.
With Montgomery officially categorized as week-to-week, the Texans’ backfield depth chart faces a sudden test. Beyond Marks, Dare Ogunbowale stands as the only other fully healthy running back currently holding a spot on the active 53-man roster. In the wake of Montgomery’s injury designation, the organization is also weighing its options regarding practice squad elevations, with players like Jawhar Jordan and Deuce Vaughn looming as logical candidates to be called up to provide necessary insurance and depth for the grueling travel and physical demands of the London game.
The challenge awaiting Marks and the Texans in London is formidable. The Jacksonville Jaguars enter the weekend boasting a formidable pass defense that ranks among the league’s stingiest, anchored by an overall quarterback rating against of just 71.7. For a running back like Marks, who relies heavily on maintaining rhythm, catching passes out of the backfield, and carving out yards in space, navigating the Jaguars’ defensive front and linebacking corps will require the same sharp execution he displayed in the closing stages of the win over Tennessee.
As the Texans board their flight across the Atlantic, the offensive microscope will undoubtedly be focused on the second-year back. Armed with a multi-year contract and a sudden surge in responsibility, Woody Marks has a golden opportunity to cement his status as a vital centerpiece of Houston’s offensive scheme for the remainder of the 2026 campaign.
