David Montgomery was the story of Tuesday morning when the Texans and Raiders opened the first joint practice of the 2026 season, and he made it look easy. Limited touches in training camp have kept him mostly under wraps, but when the lane opened, he cut through the Raiders defense and burst untouched to the second and third level.
The sequence came after C.J. Stroud started the first Texans team drill with three straight completions, including throws to Xavier Hutchinson and Dalton Schultz, which helped set a sharp tone for the day. On the run that stood out most, Blake Fisher washed Maxx Crosby down the line of scrimmage and created the edge for Montgomery, while Woody Marks also found success on his first rep by bouncing a run behind Fisher and company.
That was the part of the practice that made Montgomery the day’s headline. The coaching staff has been limiting his touches during training camp to keep him healthy, so the burst stood out because it showed what he can still do when he gets even one clean crease. He did not need volume to leave a mark. One seam, one clear read, and the play was over before the Raiders could close it.
The Texans offense looked strong for most of the session and the protection held up well, giving Stroud time to work and the run game room to breathe. But the day did not finish cleanly. In two-minute situations, the offense closed with two interceptions, a reminder that the best parts of the practice still came with unfinished business at the end.
For Montgomery, the question now is not whether the burst is still there. It is how often the Texans will let him show it. If Tuesday was any indication, even a limited workload can change the feel of a practice fast.
