The 0-3 Houston Texans are still searching for their first victory of the season. However, before their upcoming matchup with the Dallas Cowboys, Houston made news by bringing back a familiar player to its backfield. Dare Ogunbowale has returned to the Texans.
Ian Rapoport of ESPN reported the move, confirming that Houston has reunited with the veteran after his brief stint with the Las Vegas Raiders.
“The Texans have signed Dare Ogunbowale off the Raiders practice squad, bringing back an old friend,” Rapoport wrote.
Ogunbowale originally joined the Las Raiders as a free agent ahead of his eighth NFL season, but he did not make a game appearance for the team during the 2026 campaign.
Ogunbowale had previously spent four consecutive seasons with the Texans. During the 2025 season, he appeared in all 17 games, recording 11 carries for 25 yards and a touchdown. He also contributed as a receiver, catching 10 passes for 76 yards.
Across his time with Houston, Ogunbowale has appeared in 63 games, taking part in 730 offensive snaps while playing an even larger role on special teams with 1,058 snaps.
Ogunbowale entered the NFL in 2017 as an undrafted free agent, initially signing with the Texans. Outside of his time in Houston, the veteran has also spent portions of his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Commanders, and Jacksonville Jaguars.
Now, Ogunbowale begins another stint with the Texans at an important point in their season. With his familiarity with the organization and experience on both offense and special teams, he could provide Houston with valuable depth as the team prepares for its upcoming games.
His immediate role will depend on how the Texans utilize him, but his return gives the backfield another experienced option as Houston continues its search for its first win of the season.