Texans will have to do without LT Boselli for entire season

HOUSTON -- Tony Boselli expects to play football again. It just won't be this season.

The Houston Texans placed Boselli on injured reserve Tuesday, giving up hope that the five-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle will recover this season from three shoulder operations in the past year.

The Texans thought Boselli would be a cornerstone for the offensive line this season, selecting the veteran first in the expansion draft. They wanted Boselli to block for No. 1 NFL draft pick David Carr at the crucial left tackle spot.

Although he hasn't played in more than a year, Boselli insists his career isn't over.

"I'm confident I'll be back out there," Boselli said. "Obviously, it's not the timetable I wanted.

"If I thought there was no chance I'd play again, we'd quit and go a different direction, but I'm confident I can play football still and that's the direction we're going in."

Boselli played in three games for the Jacksonville Jaguars last season before injuries to both shoulders sidelined him for the season. He was placed on injured reserve by the Jaguars last Oct. 22.

Boselli was making progress since joining Houston, but he wasn't gaining strength fast enough to allow him to compete.

Tony Boselli will spend the rest of the season on Houston's sideline.(AP)

"Once we hit September, we're on a clock," general manager Charley Casserly said. "We have 17 weeks to play 16 games. If your objective is to have him play this season, at some point you have to accelerate certain processes."

Boselli simply didn't have enough strength.

"We were never going to compromise him just to get him on the field," Casserly said.

Team doctor Walter Lowe, thinks Boselli has plenty of football left.

"I don't even want to have that talk today," Lowe said. "I think Tony believes he'll play again. I believe he'll play again.

"We have a ways to go to get to that point."

In Boselli's absence, the Texans moved rookie second-round pick Chester Pitts from guard to left tackle, where he has started all five games.

Injuries in the offensive line have been a problem all season.

Guard Ryan Schau recovered from a knee injury and started last week's game against Buffalo. Tackle Ryan Young has resumed workouts following a groin injury and could play Sunday against the Cleveland Browns.

"For the first time this week, we'll have our full complement of players out there after making this decision with Tony," coach Dom Capers said. "There's been uncertainty trying to measure Tony's progress."

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