Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown 'Sick' Over David Montgomery Trade

St. Brown shares mixed emotions about his team trading the running back to the Houston Texans.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown expressed conflicting feelings about the team's trade of running back David Montgomery to the Houston Texans. While St. Brown said he is "selfishly sick" to see Montgomery leave, he acknowledged that the trade will likely benefit Montgomery by giving him a larger role in the Texans' offense.

Why it matters

The trade of Montgomery, a key offensive contributor for the Lions, reflects the difficult roster decisions teams must make to balance the needs of individual players with the overall strategy of the team. St. Brown's comments provide insight into the human element of these transactions and how they impact the locker room.

The details

St. Brown confirmed that Montgomery had been seeking a bigger role in the Lions' offense, which was difficult given the presence of another talented running back, D'Andre Swift. While the Lions were able to net some draft capital and salary relief in the trade, St. Brown said he will miss having Montgomery as a teammate.

  • The trade was announced on Monday, March 4, 2026.
  • St. Brown's comments were made on an episode of the "St. Brown Podcast" released on Wednesday, March 6, 2026.

The players

Amon-Ra St. Brown

A wide receiver for the Detroit Lions who is close with former teammate David Montgomery.

David Montgomery

A running back who was traded from the Detroit Lions to the Houston Texans.

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What they’re saying

“Selfishly, I'm sick because I love D-Mo. But I'm also really happy for D-Mo because I know how much he wanted to have a bigger role on an offense, and I think he's going to get that in Houston.”

— Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions Wide Receiver (St. Brown Podcast)

What’s next

The trade is expected to be finalized pending the completion of physicals and other procedural requirements.

The takeaway

The trade of David Montgomery from the Detroit Lions to the Houston Texans highlights the complex emotions involved when a popular player leaves a team, even when the move may ultimately benefit the player's career. St. Brown's comments show the human side of these business decisions in the NFL.