The Detroit Lions are reportedly trading star David Montgomery despite the running back furiously denying claims that he ‘wants out’ of Motor City over the weekend.
The Lions are sending Montgomery, 28, to the Houston Texans, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport.
In exchange, Detroit is reportedly acquiring a fourth-round pick, offensive lineman Juice Scruggs, and a seventh-rounder.
The shock move comes just one day after Montgomery hit back at ESPN reporter Jeremy Fowler, who had claimed that the running back was pushing for a trade out of Detroit.
The insider reported that the Lions ‘would want a decent Day 3 pick (possibly a fifth-rounder) in return’ for the veteran, who is owed $6 million in 2026.
Fowler even suggested the Seattle Seahawks as a potential landing spot with the Super Bowl champions potentially in need of a running back should Kenneth Walker III leave in free agency.
The Detroit Lions are reportedly trading star David Montgomery to the Houston Texans
But Montgomery shut down that report over the weekend when he hit back on social media.
‘Damn, Dmo told you that?’ Montgomery wrote on X, replying to a post reporting Fowler’s claim.
However, it now appears that Fowler’s report was correct after news of Montgomery’s trade to the Texans emerged on Monday.
The trade for Montgomery cannot become official until the start of the new league year on March 11.
Montgomery, who has become lovingly known as ‘Knuckles’ to Lions fans, has been with the franchise for three years.
However, he saw his role in the team’s offense diminished over the past season amid the rise of Jahmyr Gibbs.
Montgomery, who started his career with the Chicago Bears, appeared in all 17 games for the Lions last season. However, he didn’t start in any, despite starting 28 over the two previous seasons.
Montgomery has seen his role diminished in Detroit’s offense over the past season with Gibbs getting the nod ahead of him.
Montgomery had 716 rushing yards with eight rushing scores, while hauling in 24 of Jared Goff’s pass attempts for 192 yards last season.
The news comes a day after the veteran shut down a claim about him wanting to leave Detroit
The veteran running back had 716 rushing yards with eight rushing scores last season
Meanwhile, Gibbs has taken off since entering the NFL as the Lions’ first-round pick in 2023.
The 23-year-old had 1,412 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns, which led the NFL, in 2024.
He followed that up with 1,223 yards and 13 rushing scores, with a career-high 616 receiving yards last season.
Montgomery is under contract for two more seasons at a combined base salary of $13 million, after signing a two-year extension in October 2024.