Lions RB traded to Texans after 33 touchdowns in three years

The Detroit Lions have traded operating again David Montgomery to the Houston Texans, per a number of stories.

Based on ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Lions have dealt Montgomery to Houston in trade for a fourth-round decide, a seventh-round decide and offensive lineman Juice Scruggs.

Earlier on Monday, the Texans traded one other offensive lineman, Tytus Howard, to the Cleveland Browns, receiving a fifth-round decide in return.

The acquisition of Montgomery sees the Texans land an especially prolific operating again who had fashioned a dynamic partnership with Jahmyr Gibbs in Detroit.

Lions break up dynamic duo

Montgomery rushed for two,506 yards and 33 touchdowns in three seasons with the Lions, enjoying a key function of their ascension from also-ran to NFC contender below Dan Campbell.

Detroit reached the NFC Championship Recreation within the 2023 season, struggling a heartbreaking defeat to the San Francisco 49ers, earlier than being shocked by the Washington Commanders within the Divisional Spherical the next marketing campaign after securing the one seed within the convention. Nonetheless, the Lions took a step again final season and missed the playoffs.

There isn’t a doubting Montgomery’s abilities. But, with the speedy Gibbs eligible for a probable profitable contract extension this offseason, the choice to maneuver on from the 28-year-old Montgomery is smart from a monetary perspective for the Lions.

Gibbs has been named to the Professional Bowl in every of his three seasons since being drafted within the first spherical in 2023. A real home-run hitter, he has rushed for 3,580 yards and 39 touchdowns in that point and added important worth within the passing recreation. Certainly, Gibbs has racked up 1,449 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns as a pass-catcher in his profession with Detroit.

His manufacturing helped make Montgomery surplus to necessities in Detroit, however he may have substantial worth to the Texans.

Texans goal to kick-start ailing run recreation

The Texans have been one of many worst dashing groups within the NFL final season, although these struggles didn’t stop them from reaching the Divisional Spherical of the AFC playoffs.

Solely 4 groups averaged fewer than the Texans’ 3.9 yards per carry in 2025. Houston scored solely 9 touchdowns on the bottom, that tally placing them forward of only one workforce, the Las Vegas Raiders (5).

As well as, the Texans have been thirtieth in Anticipated Factors Added (a measure of explosiveness on offense) per play on the bottom, and ended the yr in the identical place in dashing success charge, which gauges how usually a play gained the required yardage. Solely 35.6 per cent of the Texans’ dashing performs gained the mandatory yardage.

Montgomery had a hit charge of 48.1 per cent in 2025, having surpassed 50 per cent in every of his earlier two seasons.

Among the many 49 operating backs with 100 rush makes an attempt in 2025, Montgomery ranked seventeenth with a median of three.17 yards after contact (by a defender) per carry, per analytics aspect Professional Soccer Focus.

The Texans will hope that pairing Montgomery’s bodily ability set with that of a slasher in Woody Marks, who may be very harmful within the passing recreation, will give them the combination they want within the backfield.