Texans Rule Out Montgomery and Dell Again as LB Corps Gets Thin
David Montgomery (groin) stays home to rehab and won't face the Jaguars Sunday, leaving Houston's backfield in flux once more.
Still rehabbing in Houston, won't travel to face the Jaguars.
- Montgomery (groin) not traveling, remains in Houston
- Montgomery: 46 PPR pts in 5 games this 2026 season
- Tank Dell (knee) still rehabbing, no Sunday return
- LBs To'oTo'o (shoulder), Woodaz (thumb) questionable
- Clowney (knee/rest) off practice but no designation
If you were holding out hope that David Montgomery would suit up against the Jaguars on Sunday, let it go. The Texans running back is staying in Houston to rehab his groin alongside wideout Tank Dell (knee) and safety Jalen Pitre (shoulder), which means another week on the shelf for one of fantasy's more frustrating backs.
Montgomery owns just 46 PPR points through five games this 2026 season — a 138-yard, two-touchdown rushing line paired with seven grabs for 67 yards and a score. That's thin production for a back our model ranks #135 overall and #34 at the position. With him off the travel roster, Houston's backfield is once again a committee you probably can't trust blindly.
The Health Report
Beyond Montgomery and Dell, the Texans defense is carrying some question marks of its own. Linebackers Henry To'oTo'o (shoulder) and Wade Woodaz (thumb) are both listed as questionable, so Houston's second level could look different come Sunday. Jadeveon Clowney sat out Friday's practice for knee maintenance and rest but carries no injury designation, which is coach-speak for veteran load management.
There's better news deeper on the depth chart. Linebackers Azeez Al-Shaair (groin) and Jake Hansen (illness) both returned to full participation Friday and have no game status attached, meaning they should be good to go against Jacksonville.
The Fantasy Fallout
For Dell owners, the story is simpler but just as grim — he's still working his way back from the knee injury and won't be a factor. When healthy, Dell flashed real upside, posting 140 PPR points across 14 games back in 2024 (51 catches, 667 yards, three scores). That ceiling is why you stash him, but Sunday isn't the day.
Bottom line: bench Montgomery, don't go chasing him in your waiver pickups, and lean on whoever earns the backfield touches instead. Keep Dell parked on your bench or IR slot if you have one — the talent is worth the wait, but there's no near-term payoff here. Both are pure monitor-the-reports situations until Houston clears them to travel.
