Texans Leave Tank Dell, David Montgomery, and Jalen Pitre Grounded Ahead of London Clash

The Houston Texans are packing their bags for London, but they are leaving a massive chunk of their production on the tarmac. Wide receiver Tank Dell, running back David Montgomery, and safety Jalen Pitre have all been officially ruled out for Sunday's international clash against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Ian Rapoport dropped the news that the trio will not even make the transatlantic flight. Honestly, skipping a nine-hour flight with a bad groin or a bum knee is just good life advice, but it leaves Houston scrambling to field a competitive roster against a division rival.

"Ian Rapoport reported the trio will not travel with the team to London."

Dell dealing with a knee issue immediately sets off alarm bells for anyone who remembers the horrific multi-ligament tear he suffered back in 2024. He has been trying to recapture the magic of his rookie season where he posted 709 yards and seven touchdowns in just 11 games, but this latest setback hits the pause button on that comeback arc.

Losing Montgomery to a groin injury completely changes the math for the Houston ground game, while Pitre being sidelined with a shoulder problem removes a heat-seeking missile from the secondary. You cannot just subtract a starting running back, a dynamic receiver, and a core safety on a Thursday and expect the playbook to function normally.

This is exactly the kind of news that makes sportsbooks sweat. The Jaguars are already sitting pretty at 4-1 at the top of the AFC South, and oddsmakers had them as a 2.5-point favorite with a low total of 42.5 before this injury report even dropped.

Houston just crushed the Tennessee Titans 26-3, but trying to replicate that success against a rolling Jacksonville squad without three key starters is a completely different assignment. The Texans have 48 hours to figure out how to patch these holes, or this London business trip is going to end with a very long, very quiet flight home.