Texans Notebook: Nicked up players return to practice

On Monday, wide receiver Andre Johnson (groin), left tackle Duane Brown (lower leg bruise), and cornerback Kareem Jackson (hamstring) all practiced after missing time last week with injuries.

Johnson left practice early last Sunday with a groin injury. He was not a full participant on Monday, but coach Gary Kubiak liked what he saw from his star wide receiver.

“I thought he looked good,” Kubiak told reporters. “We put a play count on him. So, we're going to do that as the week goes on. It's about getting him going again and not expecting him to go the full board on the first day out. I thought he held up well, and we'll move forward tomorrow.”

It is unclear whether Johnson will play on Saturday in the team's preseason game against Carolina. That decision will be made later in the week.

“I felt fine,” Johnson told reporters. “I had a couple guys telling me I looked like I'm moving well. They asked me how I was feeling. I felt fine running out there and didn't feel anything.”

Brown was a full participant in Monday's practices, taking part in all team and individual drills. He had to leave practice last Wednesday with a lower leg bruise.

“He was fine,” Kubiak said. “He was one guy that came back, went back to his full allotment of reps. We're very fortunate with Duane. He's a hell of a player, good to see him back out here and go on.”

Jackson has been dealing with a hamstring injury, but it was never considered serious. He only took half the reps on Monday, but having all three players back at practice was good news after a week that created some nervous moments with a few of the team's biggest stars.

“All indications are we got through this morning heading in the right direction,” Kubiak said.

Quick Hits

• Defensive end J.J. Watt remains sidelined with a dislocated elbow, but he might be back to get in some preseason work. “He's doing excellent,” Kubiak said. “He was doing some push-ups in the training room [Sunday]. We knew that. He's so driven in everything he does. He's so upbeat because he knows he's going to be ready to go, and we'll see where we're at here as we get to the middle of the preseason. Hopefully, he can come back and play some of the preseason. But obviously the goal is to have him ready for [the regular season opener against] Miami.”

• Jackson has taken heat in Houston, but fellow cornerback Johnathan Joseph thinks Jackson just needs to finish plays. “It was about being consistent before, he was consistent all of last year,” Joseph said. “Now it's probably about just making more big plays, and that comes with time.”

• Kubiak is looking forward to seeing his young players in action Saturday against Carolina. “I'll sit down Thursday and decide exactly how I'm going to play them,” Kubiak said. “But the bottom line is that we got a lot of good young players, a lot of things that have to get sorted out. We have to make sure they get out there and do it on the field. So, we'll make that decision Thursday.”