HOUSTON – Days after refusing to leave the game and gutting it out through an ankle injury to close out the Indianapolis Colts, Texans rookie running back Woody Marks is ready for more.
Marks returned to practice Thursday after his ankle injury was rested Wednesday. Although he was listed as limited on the injury report, Marks emphasized he’s ready to go and can’t wait for a pivotal Sunday road game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
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“I feel good,” Marks said. “Just to be back out there and play the game I love. Just going out there, being able to get back on the field, run around, just listen to the music, have fun, just execute plays at a high level.”
Marks carried the workload with five physical, consecutive runs, including a nine-yarder for a first down, to run out the clock on the Colts and helped the Texans earn a 20-16 road win at Lucas Oil Stadium that boosted their winning streak to four games.
It was Marks who rushed for a team-high 64 yards on 19 carries. His stats weren’t flashy, but the fourth-round draft pick from USC was critical to the win.
Now, the Texans need him to run it back Sunday against the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.
“Yeah, it’s a big football game,” Marks said. “It’s the football game we got this week, so I just got to go out there and execute. Trying to keep this thing rolling. Momentum is play-by-play, week-by-week.(0:35)Just going out, just want to get that W so we can have a smile on our face when we come back Monday happy.”
When the Texans’ top-ranked defense got the football back for the offense as All-Pro cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. broke up Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones’ fourth-down pass intended for wide receiver Michael Pittman, Marks took over.
“You see the toughness that Woody exhibits,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “He’s used to carrying the load. But he did an outstanding job of just pushing through. That’s what you talk about, the injuries, the getting nicked up in the game, toughing it out, coming back, battling and wanting the football at the end of the game to close it out.
“Like you can’t say enough good things about Woody and how he’s just grown, how he’s done a great job throughout this entire year of carrying the football for us.”
When Marks limped off the field in the Texans second drive of the game, he was visibly limping. He went into the blue medical tent for examination and then ran on the sideline with trainer Roland Ramirez watching him. Marks got cleared and went back in the game and he finished strong.
“Out for the game?” Marks said. “Oh, no, I ain’t never out for the game. No matter what. No matter what the situation is, I ain’t never out.”
During the final drive of the game, Marks got some assistance from teammates. He asked quarterback C.J. Stroud should he try to score a touchdown, if he broke free. Teammates, including center Jake Andrews, kept him cognizant of what the situation called for.
“Everybody was just talking to me, making sure I knew what the down was,” Marks said. “I had to actually pull C.J. to the side and ask him, ‘If I break out, should I score or not?’ He kind of gave me tips on what to do, and Jake kind of gave me tips on, we just needed five, six to stay up, and then get down.
“Just protect the ball, somebody’s coming. And then the game was over. Just them trusting me to go back out there with the injury. That’s just who I am. Hats off to them for trusting me to go back out there.”
Veteran running back Nick Chubb scored on a sweep, filling in for Marks.
Marks has rushed for 486 yards and two touchdowns. He has 18 catches for 188 yards and two scores.
“Woody is a dog, man,” Stroud said. “It’s an honor to play with him and a blessing. I am just very happy that he’s on my team. I thought our line did a really good job putting a hat on a hat, moving guys. And Woody, Chubb did a really good job.
“It really starts with the run game. We got to be able to control the line of scrimmage and be able to run the ball. So, I thought they did a good job with that.”
The Texans have now won four games in a row and are 7-5 overall. They’re in the thick of the playoff hunt.
“Came a long way, I feel good,” Marks said. “We have one-score losses. Doing whatever it takes. NFL, hard games. They’ve got good players on the other side, good coaches. So, it’s going to be hard. It’s going to be tough. Just, who’s going to grit it out.”
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com