Woody Marks Enters Texans RB Battle After Montgomery Deal

At NRG Stadium in Houston, the Texans' running back room keeps getting more interesting. Woody Marks enters camp as a rookie fighting for snaps, and the latest contract movement involving David Montgomery added fresh conversation around where Marks fits on Houston's depth chart.

Marks is not walking into a clear path to a starting role. Houston already has established names in the backfield, which means the rookie's value will come from how quickly he earns trust in camp, preseason work, and special packages. For the Texans, roster spots at running back rarely come down to college production alone. Coaches want pass protection, ball security, and versatility.

Woody Marks lands in a crowded Texans backfield

The Texans drafted Marks as a player with a skill set that can help in multiple situations. He showed receiving ability in college, and that gives Houston another option on passing downs. That part of his game matters because teams around the NFL are putting more value on backs who can line up all over the formation and stay on the field in different personnel groups.

David Montgomery's contract news, as highlighted in the Bleacher Report report, pushed the spotlight back onto younger backs around the league and where they stand behind proven veterans. In Houston, that puts Woody Marks back into the conversation as a player trying to climb from depth piece to weekly contributor. His route to touches looks tied to fit, not hype.

Roster value may come from versatility first

The Texans do not need Marks to carry the offense right away. They need him to win a role. That can start with third-down reps, kick coverage, or short passing situations where his hands and open-field instincts help the offense stay on schedule.

Houston's coaching staff has leaned into flexibility across the roster, and Woody Marks fits that mold. A rookie back who can catch, protect the quarterback, and handle rotational work has a better shot of sticking on game days. If the competition gets tight at the bottom of the depth chart, that all-around profile could matter more than raw rushing totals.

Training camp will decide the next step

Marks' standing will become clearer once the Texans open training camp and preseason reps start to stack up. That is where young running backs usually separate themselves, especially on blitz pickup and two-minute offense snaps. One missed assignment can hurt. A few reliable series can move a player up fast.

Houston's backfield picture is still forming, and Woody Marks has a chance to carve out a spot if he handles the details. Camp practices and preseason games at NRG Stadium should offer the first real clues about how big that role can be this season.

This article is a summary of reporting by Bleacher Report. Read the full story here.