Mar 2, 2026, 04:09 PM
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The Detroit Lions are trading running back David Montgomery to the Houston Texans for offensive lineman Juice Scruggs and two draft picks, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Monday.
The Lions also will receive fourth- and seventh-round draft picks, the sources said.
Montgomery joins a backfield that includes Woody Marks, who rushed for 703 yards in 2025, his rookie season. Marks shared carries with veteran running back Nick Chubb, who is a pending free agent, before becoming the lead back later in the season.
Running back Joe Mixon, who the Texans traded for two years ago, missed the entire 2025 season because of a foot injury and his status for the coming season is still uncertain.
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Montgomery rushed for 716 yards and eight touchdowns last season, his third with the Lions. His role in Detroit has steadily diminished, however, because of the emergence of Jahmyr Gibbs.
Scruggs is the second offensive lineman traded by the Texans on Monday. Houston also agreed to send Tytus Howard to the Cleveland Browns on Monday in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick.
Montgomery was unhappy with his reduced role in 2025 but did engage in "healthy dialogue" with Lions general manager Brad Holmes this offseason while deciding whether to push for a trade or remain in Detroit.
Montgomery had his fewest rushes (158) and touches (182) in a season in his career despite playing all 17 games last season.
After averaging 14.4 rushes per game and 16.3 touches per game in his first two seasons with the Lions, Montgomery averaged 9.3 rushes per game and 10.7 touches per game last season.
Montgomery played 41% of the offensive snaps but that dropped to 33% in Weeks 11-18, per ESPN Research. He didn't have more than 10 carries in a game in any of the Lions' final 8 games.
He will turn 29 in June and is set to make $5.49 million this season -- the first of a two-year, $18.25 million extension that he signed with Detroit in October 2024.
ESPN's Eric Woodyard contributed to this report.