Texans Week 6 Inactives: Braden Smith Out, Marvin Harrison Jr. Active
The Houston Texans’ official Week 6 inactive list is out ahead of Sunday’s London game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The headline surprise is veteran tackle Braden Smith, who was activated from injured reserve this week but will not make his Texans debut at Wembley Stadium.
Houston also confirmed running back David Montgomery and safety Jalen Pitre will sit, as expected. New wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. is not on the inactive list, confirming he is available to debut after joining Houston in a trade this week.
Houston Texans inactives vs. Jaguars
The Texans’ official announcement lists seven inactive players:
S Jalen Pitre (No. 5)
RB David Montgomery (No. 32)
DE Sabastian Harsh (No. 54)
G Febechi Nwaiwu (No. 64)
T Braden Smith (No. 71)
T Nathan Thomas (No. 78)
TE Marlin Klein (No. 83)
Braden Smith’s return is delayed
Smith’s absence matters because Houston activated him from injured reserve during the week after a foot injury cost him the first five games. He practiced fully before Week 5 and had been moving toward his season debut, but the game day decision keeps him out for at least one more week.
Trent Brown is active after finishing the week with two full practices, making him the most direct veteran option at right tackle. Houston will dress fewer reserve offensive linemen than usual with Smith, Nwaiwu and Thomas all inactive, so in game flexibility becomes an important subplot against Jacksonville’s front.
Marvin Harrison Jr. is active for his Texans debut
Harrison’s availability gives C.J. Stroud a new perimeter weapon alongside Nico Collins. Fantasy managers should treat Harrison as a volatile first week option because his role and snap count have not been publicly defined, but active status removes the final pregame obstacle. He is best viewed as a boom or bust flex rather than an automatic high volume starter in his first game with a new offense.
Stroud remains a viable fantasy starter. The quarterback entered Week 6 with 1,402 passing yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions, while Houston has increasingly leaned on the pass. Harrison’s presence raises the offense’s ceiling even if the receiver’s individual workload starts modestly.
Woody Marks leads the backfield
Montgomery’s groin injury was already listed as out on Houston’s final injury report. His placement on the inactive list locks Woody Marks into the lead back role. Marks carries the strongest fantasy value among Houston skill players affected by the announcement, under half point per reception scoring where his receiving work can protect his floor.
Dare Ogunbowale remains available, and Jawhar Jordan was elevated from the practice squad Saturday. That combination gives Houston complementary options, but neither move changes Marks’ status as the backfield priority.
Defensive impact: Kamari Ramsey replaces Pitre
Pitre’s shoulder injury removes Houston’s primary nickel defender. Rookie Kamari Ramsey handled the slot role after Pitre left last week’s win over Tennessee and is the logical replacement again. The change is worth monitoring against Parker Washington and Jacksonville’s short passing game, particularly on third down.
The broader Texans defense remains an attractive fantasy play. Houston entered Sunday with 18 sacks, tied near the top of the league, while Jacksonville will start Walker Little at left tackle after Anton Harrison went on injured reserve. The matchup gives Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter a clear path to pressure Trevor Lawrence, even with Pitre unavailable.
What the inactive list means
Start Woody Marks as Houston’s lead fantasy running back.
Keep C.J. Stroud in starting lineups; Harrison’s debut adds upside.
Use Marvin Harrison Jr. as a risk and reward flex, not an automatic WR1.
Texans D/ST remains playable because of the pass rush matchup.
Monitor Houston’s right tackle protection with Braden Smith inactive.
Kickoff from Wembley Stadium is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. ET (8:30 a.m. CT) on NFL Network. This is a developing game day story; any additional roster change will be reflected in a separate update rather than folded into the preview.
Factual cutoff and fantasy scoring
Factual cutoff: This article reflects official Texans and Jaguars information checked October 18, 2026 at 7:22 AM CDT. Fantasy guidance uses half point per reception scoring for offense. IDP scoring varies by league, so defensive advice is role based rather than a universal point projection.
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