Lions Trade Montgomery to Texans
Detroit Lions traded veteran RB David Montgomery to the Houston Texans in a major move that won't be official until March 11. The deal also sends a package of assets to Detroit, giving Houston much-needed backfield experience. Montgomery's departure opens up more opportunities for Jahmyr Gibbs in Detroit's rushing attack.
The trade sending David Montgomery to Houston nets the Detroit Lions a 2026 fourth-round pick, a 2027 seventh-round pick, and offensive lineman Juice Scruggs. Scruggs, a 2023 second-round pick out of Penn State, started only one game for the Texans in 2025, playing a total of 351 offensive snaps. Montgomery's role in Detroit's offense diminished in the 2025 season. He recorded career lows in carries (158) and rushing yards (716), although he still managed to score eight touchdowns. This was a notable decrease from his 2023 performance where he had 1,015 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. The Houston Texans struggled significantly in their running game during the 2025 season, making a veteran presence like Montgomery a key target. They finished the season with just 1,852 total rushing yards and only 9 rushing touchdowns. Their average of 3.9 yards per carry was among the lowest in the league. With Montgomery's departure, Jahmyr Gibbs is now positioned as the undisputed lead back for the Lions. In the 2025 season, Gibbs flourished, rushing for 1,223 yards on 243 carries and scoring 18 touchdowns, earning his third Pro Bowl selection. His increased workload was a clear indicator of the shift in the Lions' backfield dynamics.
