The Texans are not finished on the trade front. A much-anticipated running back addition is now being lined up, with another member of their offensive line set to play elsewhere. 
David Montgomery is heading from Detroit to Houston, as first reported by Tom Pelissero, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. In return, the Lions will acquire offensive lineman Juice Scruggs, along with fourth- and seventh-round picks (h/t Pelissero). The seventh-round selection is for the 2027 draft, ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes.
Houston was Montgomery’s preferred destination, Garafolo adds. He will now take on a prominent role in the backfield as the Texans look for improvements on the ground in 2026. Schefter’s colleague Dan Graziano recently named Houston as one of the teams likely to be active in March with respect to running back additions, so today’s news comes as no surprise. Montgomery in particular is a logical target in the Texans’ case given the fact he was seeking a fresh start.
Since the end of the 2025 campaign, a Montgomery trade has been a distinct possibility. Detroit has Jahmyr Gibbs in place, and his fifth-year option is likely to be exercised. That would ensure at least two more years in the Motor City, but a long-term extension at or near the top of the RB market is expected to be pursued. Keeping Gibbs and Montgomery on lucrative deals would not have been feasible given the Lions’ other financial commitments.
Instead, Montgomery will prepare to play for a third career team in anticipation of a heavy workload. The former third-rounder averaged fewer than 12 attempts per game for the first time in his career last season. 2025 was also the first season in which he fell short of 1,000 scrimmage yards. That could soon change with the Texans set to see Nick Chubb reach free agency next week. Fellow veteran Joe Mixon missed all of 2025 through injury and has since undergone surgery. A release in his case should be expected as a result.
Woody Marks has three years remaining on his rookie contract, but bringing in a veteran to split carries with him has long been expected. Montgomery, who turns 29 in June, will be tasked with doing so. He is owed a base salary of $5.49MM in 2026 with a scheduled cap hit of $6MM. Montgomery’s pact runs through 2027, but whether or not he lands a new commitment by that point will of course depend on his performance in Houston.
The Texans’ offensive line will certainly look much different next season. Houston agreed to trade Tytus Howard to the Browns earlier today, creating a vacancy in the starting lineup. Scruggs was not a first-team presence in 2025, but losing him will ensure Houston’s depth along the interior will be altered when next season begins. One year remains on Scruggs’ rookie contract.
The former second-rounder will now look to compete for playing time in Detroit. The Lions were known to be in the market for additions at the left tackle spot but also on the inside. Scruggs, 26, has primarily played at left guard during his career but he saw notable time at center as well in 2024. The future of Graham Glasgow is uncertain at this point, and a release or retirement in his case could open to door to playing time for Scruggs ahead of free agency.
The Lions will look to improve up front in 2026 knowing a stronger O-line will go a long way in helping their offense (a unit which finished fourth in scoring this past year) become even more effective. A running back addition of some kind will be required as well, though, with Gibbs now in need of a new backfield partner.
I’d still rather have Monty, but that’s not a bad return for an aging rotational back coming off a bad season.
He’s definitely not a rotational back.
He was in Detroit
No, he was part of a tandem in Detroit until they got a new OC who Dan Campbell had to take the play calling from and subsequently utilized Montgomery plenty after that.
He’s easily among the best #2 backs in the league.
it was a really good tandem. but things are getting expensive in Detroit and Monty was a luxury. They can likely find a nice secondary back who can operate a little less than Monty while Gibbs takes on a little more. the production at the spot should still be high, but at a reduced cost.
You definitely haven’t watched him play.
I’ve watched him play since he was at Iowa State but hey nice try!
Well if you watched him when he was in college, then he must be a starter, because that’s how that works.
He was literally a feature back in Chicago, and it’s very obvious you don’t know or watch football so you overcompensate with weak and tryhard insults.
“ aging rotational back coming off a bad season.”
Wasn’t a bad season by any means
His role diminished but he still finished the year with
158 carries 716 yards (4.5 yards a carry) 8 TDs
If that’s aging rotational bad season production plenty of teams would love that kind of production from their RB2
Houstons perfect destination for him to complement Marks. He’ll probably get 250+ carries, 1000+ yards, 6 or more TDs next year with an increased role and stays healthy
I figured people were intelligent enough to understand “bad” based off his own career, not based off every backup running back in the league. I also said I would’ve preferred to have him back. Don’t be so sensitive.
Nobody is sensitive. You’re just wrong to call him a rotational back. Rotational backs don’t split carries and have 700+ rushing yards. They’re #3 backs.
If you want to say he had career lows, a down year, reduced production say those things. You don’t say he had a bad year to imply he had a good year with limited opportunities
People replying to your words and you having to further explain yourself is your own fault not theirs and means what you meant to say didn’t come across as you intended.
Don’t be so sensitive
“Aging rotational back.” Love these rationalizations
How many 29+ year old running backs in the NFL can you name who are considered “in their prime?”
You’re right, he’s Benjamin Button and getting younger. Thanks for the clarification.
Plus he didn’t play nearly as much as you’d think in a timeshare with Gibbs.
How is almost 1,000 yards as a rotational RB2 a bad season lmao
Texans revamping the WHOLE offense. Get the Ravens C and the 49er’s LT.
Good place for him, they badly wanted Mixon to return. Montgomery can contribute.
So they trade their most established offensive lineman right before he turns 30. OK. But then they turn right back around to trade the same draft capital for a running back who’s about to turn 29? I like Montgomery, but that’s odd team building.
My mistake. It’s even more draft capital.
Texans love old RB’s.
They just needed to get their foot in the door.
Lol he’s not even that old. He’s got at least a few good years left.
“He’s got at least a few good years left” is not a statement you can realistically make about a 29 year old running back.
29 years old FFS.
It’s ok, my niece also knows nothing about football
Kid you don’t know me. Watch your mouth.
You’re the same guy who was insisting that AJ Brown doesn’t drop passes the other day, despite being shown video of him dropping passes. You actually don’t know anything about football.
20 something in the amount of years he’s played isn’t a lot but hey nice try!
It’s actually you who doesn’t know anything, and you prove this with every disrespectful comment about players based on literally nothing.
Yeah I’m gonna have to disagree, Oooof. Multiple backs similar to Montgomery have been good into their early thirties at the very least.
Here is a complete list of every running back who was 30 or over when this past season began who had at least 40 rushing attempts for the season: Derrick Henry, Alvin Kamara, and Aaron Jones.
Not familiar with Scruggs. Will he be a potential OL starter or simply depth?
Texans already had one of the worst Olines in the league……
He’s been a reserve who can play multiple positions on the line, including center. He’ll probably compete for a starting job with a rookie somewhere and add depth. He’s also in the year of his contract while only counting pennies against the cap.
He was overdrafted as a center and had one stretch where he looked passable at left guard. He’s worth a look, but probably just a depth throw in.
Texans already had one of the worst Olines in the league already
Welp, guess I was wrong.
The Lions better hope they can find an adequate replacement for Montgomery because that offense flat out does not work with Gibbs getting the bulk of the carries and no big back to soften the defense.
Two years ago they traded up to draft Sione Vaki and announced him as a running back, but they’ve basically only used him on special teams. He’s nearly Montgomery’s size. I wonder if they’ll ever make him part of their RB plan.
Looks like Chubb and Mixon will be moving on? Knuckles will help them but not a good line.
Mixon may never play again.
That’s kind of a lot to give up, but Montgomery is still good. I don’t blame Detroit at all for making this move.
Great trade for the Texans
I like the acquisition but it better be the 128th and not the 106th. You’re telling me that T. Howard is less valuable than Montgomery? (5th vs 4th+7th+Scruggs)
Juice, Kool-Aid, Sauce.
Why? These are grown men.
Because some people like to officially be called what people who know them actually call them? Because it’s fun? Because it’s been commonplace forever?
It’s always funny to me that you chose the name Macbeth for an account you regularly use to criticize other men for looking out for themselves.
This is a weird situation for Montgomery to ask to go to if the problem in Detroit was being set aside for a younger primary back.
I disagree. Marks is not Gibbs. He’s okay but he’s definitely a tandem guy.
I would’ve rather kept him. The reports say he wanted out. Does no good to keep somebody that doesn’t wanna stick around. As for the trade, the lions got more in return than I was expecting.
Knuckles!!!!!!!
Nice move