Chubb Retires, and Houston's Backfield Depth Belongs to Montgomery Now

Nick Chubb announced his retirement Friday, closing out a career that included four Pro Bowl selections and one of the more remarkable comeback stories in recent NFL history. He played last season in Houston, contributing 568 rushing yards and three touchdowns across 17 games — useful depth behind Woody Marks, who carried the bulk of the backfield load.

The timing is what it is. Houston traded for David Montgomery earlier this month specifically to add another reliable option in the run game alongside Marks, so the Chubb news does not leave the Texans scrambling the way the Higgins injury did. Montgomery is active and healthy. The backfield has a plan.

What it no longer has is a veteran safety valve. Chubb was the kind of presence you don't fully account for until he's gone — a proven commodity who had seen everything and could absorb carries in a pinch. Now that role falls entirely to Montgomery and whatever the depth chart behind him produces. The RB depth chart currently lists Owen Wright, Jawhar Jordan, and British Brooks behind the starters, none of whom have established themselves at this level.

It's a quiet loss stacked on top of louder ones. The Higgins ACL, Noel's injury, Tank Dell still listed as questionable — Houston has spent most of August patching holes. Chubb retiring is not a crisis on its own. But the Texans are heading into a season where they need everything to hold, and one more thing just didn't.