Texans will be without David Montgomery, Jalen Pitre in London

The Houston Texans will be without running back David Montgomery and safety Jalen Pitre for Sunday's matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London, as both players will remain in Houston while recovering from their respective injuries. Wide receiver Tank Dell will also miss the international matchup, delaying his return for at least another week.

Montgomery is dealing with a groin injury, while Pitre is recovering from a shoulder injury. Both players will be unavailable Sunday, forcing Houston to adjust its plans on both sides of the football.

Montgomery's absence is another challenge for a Texans offense looking to build momentum after earning a much-needed win.

With Montgomery unavailable, Houston will need other running backs to take on a larger workload. Woody Marks could see an expanded role as the Texans look to establish some sort of consistency on the ground. His abilities as both a runner and receiver could be important against a Jacksonville team that has opened the season with a 4-1 record.

Pitre's absence presents another challenge for the Texans defense. The nickelback has been a key presence in Houston's secondary, and losing him leaves the team needing other defensive backs to step up against a Jaguars offense that has found success early in the season.

Houston will need to limit Jacksonville's explosive plays and avoid giving its division rival easy opportunities. With Pitre unavailable, communication and execution in the secondary will be particularly important as the Texans attempt to slow down the Jaguars red hot offense.

The Texans will also have to wait at least one more week for Dell's return. The wide receiver has been working his way back from a knee injury, but he will remain in Houston rather than travel with the team to London.

Sunday's matchup remains an important opportunity for Houston as they attempts to climb back into the AFC South race. The Texans will face a Jacksonville team that has gotten off to a strong start, making the absences of Montgomery and Pitre particularly significant.

Houston's depth will be tested in London, particularly against a Jacksonville team that has already established itself as a contender in the division and as a team that could potentially make a deep post season run. With little room for error after a 1-4 start to the season, the Texans need a complete performance if they hope to revive the 2026 campaign and avoid falling further behind in the AFC South.