Houston Texans running back Woody Marks returned to Monday night’s NFL Wild Card game after clearing concussion protocol, easing concerns following a scary moment in the second quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Marks briefly exited the game after taking a hard hit late in a Texans drive, with his head striking the turf. He was immediately evaluated in the medical tent and initially listed as questionable to return. According to reporting from the Houston Chronicle , Marks was later cleared and allowed back onto the field after missing only a handful of plays.
Prior to leaving the game, Marks was already making a strong impact. He carried the ball nine times for 51 yards, leading Houston in both rushing attempts and yardage early in the contest. His return allowed the Texans to continue leaning on their preferred backfield rotation rather than making a prolonged adjustment.
Early Momentum in Houston’s Favor
The Steelers opened the scoring in the first quarter with a 32-yard field goal from Chris Boswell. Houston responded in the second quarter when quarterback C.J. Stroud connected with Christian Kirk on a six-yard touchdown pass, giving the Texans a brief lead and shifting momentum.
While Marks was sidelined, Houston turned to Nick Chubb to stabilize the rushing attack. Marks’ quick clearance, however, prevented what could have been a disruptive loss in a tightly contested playoff matchup.
Woody Marks concussion injury, damn hope he’s alright pic.twitter.com/lJZzT1QgpH
— Tedd Buddwell 🏀🏈 (@TedBuddy8) January 13, 2026
Divisional Round Stakes
The Texans entered the game as the No. 4 seed, hosting the No. 5 Steelers in the final game of the Wild Card round. The winner advances to the Divisional Round to face the New England Patriots in Foxborough, setting up a high-stakes road test next weekend.
With Marks back in uniform and able to contribute, Houston avoided a major injury setback on a night when every drive and every decision carried postseason consequences.
For official updates and full playoff coverage, visit the NFL Playoffs hub .
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