Texans News
Houston Texans running back Woody Marks left Sunday’s 40-20 victory over the Arizona Cardinals with an ankle injury but should return for Week 16. Head coach DeMeco Ryans said Monday that Marks could have re-entered the game had the situation required it.
The injury occurred early in the contest at NRG Stadium. Marks departed after carrying seven times for 30 yards and catching one pass for eight yards. He also scored on a fumble recovery touchdown before exiting.
Ryans addressed reporters about the ankle issue. “He got his ankle tweaked a little bit there early in the game,” Ryans said. The team kept Marks sidelined as a precautionary measure. “We wanted to make sure he is good as we continue to go into the week,” Ryans added.
The running back has taken control of Houston’s backfield over recent weeks. From Week 10 through Week 14, Marks rushed for 313 yards and one touchdown on 93 attempts. He carried the ball a career-high 26 times in Week 14 against Kansas City.
Nick Chubb missed Sunday’s game with a rib injury sustained against the Chiefs. The veteran was inactive for the Cardinals matchup. Jawhar Jordan stepped into a larger role, rushing for 101 yards on 15 carries in his NFL debut while Marks was sidelined. Houston faces the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, December 21 at 3:25 PM CST at NRG Stadium. The Texans improved to 9-5 with the win over Arizona. They have won six consecutive games after starting the season 2-4.
Marks has rushed for 554 yards and two touchdowns through 13 games. He has added 20 receptions for 196 yards and three receiving touchdowns. The USC product has received double-digit carries in each of his last eight games.
The backfield situation remains in flux as the Texans enter the playoff stretch. Chubb’s status for Week 16 is uncertain following his rib injury. Ryans’ comments suggest Marks avoided a serious injury. The running back is listed as questionable on the Week 16 injury report. Practice participation this week will determine his availability against Las Vegas.
Houston’s offense has relied heavily on Marks since the bye week. He has averaged 3.5 yards per carry this season. The Raiders allow 26.8 points per game, ranking 26th in the league in scoring defense.
