One of the most intriguing stories this offseason is why the Detroit Lions moved on from David Montgomery. After his trade to the Houston Texans, the running back has addressed his status, making one thing clear to his new team and another one to his former club.
The Lions had been able to have one of the strongest RB duos in the league with Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. The two complemented each other perfectly as “Sonic and Knuckles,” yet the NFC North franchise moved on from Montgomery in a move that surprised many.
Now that he is part of the Texans, the 28-year-old running back has addressed the trade. Montgomery was clear that he will give it all to his new team, believing that his prime is not gone—a slight jab at the Lions after trading him away.
“I honestly feel like I’m in my prime,” David Montgomery said, via The Houston Chronicle. “Am I able to handle the work load? Yes, because I work hard in the offseason to be able to do something like that.”
David Montgomery returns to being the RB1 in Houston
In 2023, just when David Montgomery joined the Detroit Lions, the club drafted Jahmyr Gibbs at 12th overall. However, the veteran maintained his position as RB1 for the majority of their time together, even as Gibbs was regarded as the clear future of the position. Montgomery’s ability to handle the “heavy lifting” allowed Gibbs to develop, but the dynamic eventually shifted as the younger back took on a larger share of the touches.
A year later, Montgomery and Gibbs shared more snaps, and fans didn’t have it clear who was the RB1. However, in the 2025 NFL season everything changed and Gibbs was finally regarded as the starter, which is why the exit of Montgomery this offseason makes more sense. Despite playing in all 17 games last year, Montgomery saw his snap count drop to a career-low 37%, leading to reported frustration that paved the way for this week’s blockbuster trade.
Now as part of the Texans, Montgomery is set to become the RB1 once again. The club moved on from Joe Mixon and Nick Chubb, and the former Lions player is now the first option in the depth chart, yet he faces competition again for the starter role.
In 2025, the Texans drafted Woody Marks. He had a solid rookie campaign with 912 all-purpose yards and proved he could handle a heavy workload in the playoffs. He was the reason why the club didn’t stick to either Mixon or Chubb, but they still want him to develop better and that’s why they included Montgomery this offseason. The team believes the veteran can serve as a bridge while Marks continues to refine his game.
David Montgomery comes off a career-low mark of 716 yards in 158 carries. Nevertheless, the Texans believe he is a strong option to guide Marks, just as he did with Gibbs in the Lions, to make him an elite running back in the upcoming years.