The Houston Texans are heading to London shorthanded for a critical AFC South matchup against the
Jacksonville Jaguars. Houston will be without Tank Dell, David Montgomery, and Jalen Pitre, leaving the team down three important pieces for Sunday’s NFL game at Wembley Stadium.
#Texans WR Tank Dell (knee), RB David Montgomery (groin) and S Jalen Pitre (shoulder) will not travel with the team to London and have been ruled out vs the #Jaguars.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 15, 2026
The timing is especially difficult for Houston. The Texans are 1-4 entering the matchup, while Jacksonville is 4-1 after a dramatic London win over Philadelphia last week.
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Texans lose key pieces on both sides
Dell’s absence is particularly notable because the wide receiver had a legitimate chance to make his 2026 debut this week. Dell returned to practice and participated fully Wednesday after spending the beginning of the season on injured reserve, but he ultimately will not make the trip to London.
Although Dell has not played a game this season, his importance to the Texans should not be overlooked. When healthy, he has been an explosive part of Houston’s passing attack, and the possibility of getting him back on the field made this week’s matchup particularly intriguing.
Montgomery is another significant loss. The veteran running back is dealing with a groin injury that has been described as week-to-week, leaving Woody Marks in line for an expanded role against Jacksonville. NBC Sports reported that Montgomery’s absence leaves Marks atop the Texans’ backfield depth chart.
Pitre’s absence creates another major concern. The safety has been one of Houston’s key defensive players, and his shoulder injury means the Texans will have to replace him against a Jaguars offense that has several dangerous weapons.
The official NFL injury report confirms Montgomery and Pitre did not participate in practice, while Dell was listed as a full participant before being ruled out.
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Jaguars offense presents another challenge
The Texans will have their hands full against Jacksonville’s receiving corps. Parker Washington, Jakobi Meyers and Brian Thomas Jr. give Trevor Lawrence multiple options to attack the Houston secondary, with Washington emerging as an especially important weapon early in the season.
Washington entered the week leading Jacksonville with 16 receptions for 228 yards and two touchdowns, while Meyers had 13 catches for 165 yards and two touchdowns through four games. Thomas had nine catches for 105 yards and a touchdown during that stretch.
That makes the loss of Pitre particularly significant. Houston will need its remaining defensive backs to limit a Jaguars passing attack that just produced 331 passing yards and two touchdowns in Jacksonville’s 19-17 win over Philadelphia in London.
The Texans will also have to account for the unique circumstances of playing in London. Jacksonville already has experience playing there this season after beating Philadelphia last Sunday, while Houston is now traveling overseas for its Week 6 matchup.
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