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Woody Marks may have officially seized control of the Houston Texans\u2019 backfield, and head coach DeMeco Ryans wants to see him continue to capitalize on what they expect to be increased opportunities.<\/p>\n
Marks was the No. 116 overall pick in the 2025 draft.<\/p>\n
Brought in to be a change-of-pace option behind Joe Mixon, who is on the Reserve\/Non-Football Injury (NFI) list, and Nick Chubb, Marks has emerged as so much more.<\/p>\n
The Houston Chronicle\u2019s Sam Warren noted that the Texans leaned on Marks more against the\u00a0Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 10 than they had all season.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Houston Texans appeared to have a new lead back Sunday,\u201d\u00a0Warren wrote\u00a0on November 13. \u201cThe moment was overdue for the rookie who has been a key part of Houston\u2019s running back rotation this year.<\/p>\n
Warren\u2019s take comes on the heels of Ryans\u2019 comments about Marks and his fellow rookies.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo more rookies. Woody, let\u2019s go. Woody\u2019s doing a great job. We got to continue to feed him more.\u00a0[Jayden] Higgins\u00a0on the outside. Everybody sees, this guy\u2019s catch radius is insane. Put the ball in his vicinity. He\u2019s going to go and get it. You need a big play. Who shows up on fourth down? It\u2019s\u00a0Jaylin Noel\u00a0showing up, when we needed it most, to make that play,\u201d Ryans said on \u201cAll Access\u201d on November 11.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese guys are not rookies. They\u2019re making plays in the critical times of a game. Crunch time. We need it most. We\u2019re counting on the rookies. Tae is doing a great job there at left tackle, continuing to battle down in, down out. He\u2019s getting better as the season is going on. So, yeah. The rookie nameplate is off. It\u2019s like, let\u2019s go, and how can we finish this season the right way?\u201d<\/p>\n
While Higgins and Noel have come up big in clutch moments, Marks and \u201cTae\u201d [Aireontae Ersery] have been consistent contributors at two of the game\u2019s most demanding positions.<\/p>\n
Offensive coordinator\u00a0Nick Caley likes the combination of Chubb and Marks, noting that who leads the backfield could change week to week. Ryans also touted the Texans\u2019 unexpected top backfield duo.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe did a really nice job handling the bulk of the carries for us,\u201d\u00a0Ryans said\u00a0on November 10. \u201cWhen Chubb came in and got his opportunities, he had some explosive runs.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a good 1-2 punch that we were able to use.\u201d<\/p>\n
With Mixon sidelined, Chubb was set to be the Texans\u2019 lead back, and he started the first eight games. However, Chubb is on a one-year contract, while the Texans also have\u00a0decisions to make\u00a0on Mixon, leaving Marks positioned to solidify his role as RB1 for next season.<\/p>\n
Marks is now up to 304 yards and 2 touchdowns on 81 rushing attempts, adding 15 receptions for 183 yards and 2 TDs. He knows there is a long way to go, and Marks is determined to realize his potential.<\/p>\n
However, he is already making a strong impression.<\/p>\n
\u201cStaying laser focused and don\u2019t get too hot, get too low,\u201d Marks said, per Warren. \u201cJust stay in the middle. I\u2019ve always got room for improvement.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe knew exactly what Woody could do,\u201d Ersery said, per Warren. \u201cHe was shifty, he could make people miss. He\u2019s not a small guy, he can run you over too. He\u2019s like the perfect running back. And like I said, man, I\u2019m just so happy for him and I\u2019m glad he\u2019s doing great things.\u201d<\/p>\n
Indianapolis, IN \u2014 A Quarterback Controversy that Could Define a Dynasty<\/em><\/p>\n The Indianapolis Colts are humming along with a commanding 8-2 record, sitting atop the AFC South with a two-game lead, and currently holding the No. 1 seed in the AFC. While the season is far from over and seeding could change dramatically in the coming weeks, one thing is clear: the Colts have found something special this season. And much of that success can be attributed to a decision that seemed risky at the time\u2014choosing Daniel Jones as the starting quarterback over the much-hyped Anthony Richardson.<\/p>\n Entering the 2025 season, the Colts were facing what many believed could be a major landmine in terms of quarterback play. Richardson, the team\u2019s 2023 first-round draft pick, had experience in Shane Steichen\u2019s system after playing under him for two years. With all eyes on Richardson as the next great hope for the Colts, it seemed like the most logical move to hand him the reins as QB1. But Indianapolis made a bolder decision.<\/p>\n The Bold Decision to Start Daniel Jones<\/strong><\/p>\n Instead of going with Richardson, the Colts took a chance on Daniel Jones, whose career had been marked by struggles in New York with the Giants and a brief stint with the Minnesota Vikings that didn\u2019t leave a lasting impression. Jones had flamed out in New York, failing to live up to the potential that had once made him a first-round pick in 2019. But Indianapolis saw something in Jones that could work in their favor.<\/p>\n Through 10 games in 2025, it\u2019s clear that the Colts made the right choice. Jones has been nothing short of terrific, showcasing poise, leadership, and a level of consistency that has allowed the Colts to thrive. He has breathed new life into a team that had been in search of stability at the quarterback position for years. His solid play has led Indianapolis to a top spot in the AFC, and while the season has a long way to go, the future is looking bright for the Colts with Jones at the helm.<\/p>\n The Anthony Richardson Dilemma: Could He Be on the Move?<\/strong><\/p>\n Of course, the question remains: what about Richardson? His future in Indianapolis is now uncertain, and the Colts face a significant decision next offseason with the fifth-year option on his contract for 2027 looming. The speculation around Richardson\u2019s future has already begun, and some analysts, like Billy Heyen of the Sporting News, suggest that Richardson could be traded sooner rather than later.<\/p>\n One potential scenario is a trade to the Carolina Panthers, where Richardson would join another former high-profile 2023 draft pick, Bryce Young. The Panthers\u2019 decision to stick with Young as their starter despite his lackluster performance has drawn criticism, much like Richardson\u2019s struggles in Indianapolis. Young has started 37 games over three seasons for Carolina, but his record of 11-26, combined with a quarterback rating of just 77.8 and a troubling 37-26 touchdown-to-interception ratio, has led some to question his future as the Panthers’ QB1. Could Richardson be the answer in Carolina? Some think a change of scenery might be just what both quarterbacks need, but at this point, Richardson\u2019s future in Indianapolis appears increasingly uncertain.<\/p>\n The Long-Term Vision for the Colts<\/strong><\/p>\n For Colts fans, however, the uncertainty surrounding Richardson\u2019s future isn\u2019t a major concern. Indianapolis has found its long-term quarterback in Daniel Jones, and that should equate to sustained success for years to come. While the Colts’ decision to start Jones over Richardson raised some eyebrows at first, it\u2019s clear that the team\u2019s leadership saw something in Jones that many others had overlooked. His ability to manage the offense, avoid mistakes, and make crucial throws when needed has allowed the Colts to remain atop the AFC South and firmly in the playoff hunt.<\/p>\n Whether Richardson stays in Indianapolis or moves on to another team, the Colts have made a decisive step forward in securing their quarterback situation. With Jones leading the way, Indianapolis looks poised to build a new era of success, one that could lead to long-term dominance in the AFC. And while the quarterback controversy around Richardson might continue to swirl, the Colts are content knowing they have found their man under center.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Woody Marks may have officially seized control of the Houston Texans\u2019 backfield, and head coach DeMeco Ryans wants to see him continue to capitalize on what they expect to be increased opportunities….<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10817,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10818","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hot-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t