--Texans rookie Amobi Okoye won the league's Defensive Rookie of the Month honors for September. In four starts, Okoye recorded 10 tackles, an AFC-high four sacks for 30 yards, a team-high four quarterback pressures and he had one forced fumble.
The last Texan to win the honor was DeMeco Ryans, who picked it up last December.
"It means a lot; it means a lot," Okoye said of the award. "I feel like it's just scratching the surface as far as it goes. ... I heard about it a while back, I think I saw it a couple of times with DeMeco, but I never really paid that much attention to it. I'm just taking it one game at a time. It's just a start for me of all the goals I want to accomplish, and hopefully I can keep this thing rolling."
--Texans coach Gary Kubiak made it clear there is no cornerback controversy. Despite the recent struggles of DeMarcus Faggins, Kubiak said he will start Sunday. Jamar Fletcher and Fred Bennett will also play.
"Petey's our starter," Kubiak said. "I believe in him. He'll be there starting this weekend. He's going to play good; I believe in the kid. He's had a few unfortunate plays, which happens in football if you're a corner. That's part of the business. You've got to have a short memory, so I expect him to come back and play well this week."
--The Texans suited up all of their injured players -- except Andre Johnson -- for practice Wednesday. Only Ahman Green showed some signs of progress though.
Jerome Mathis and Jacoby Jones hardly participated. Jones will likely need at least one more week to heal his separated shoulder.
"I want him to come back as fast as he can, but we worry about it," Kubiak said. "He's definitely got a heck of a separation there. There've been guys who come back and play in two weeks, there's guys that take four."
Mathis' lower leg is still bothering him.
"He didn't do much of anything today, limping around pretty good," Kubiak said.
BY THE NUMBERS
40.5 -- The Texans run defense is holding its opponents 40.5 yards below their rushing average against the rest of the league this season.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"We blitzed plenty last week. We came 27 times. A lot of it was in the run game, but actually a lot of our pressures have come when we're working with a four-man rush. That's something we're doing better, and if we think we have to do it we're going to do it. We have tried it, but it hasn't necessarily been the answer to us getting pressure on the quarterback." -- Coach Gary Kubiak, on the effectiveness of the blitz.
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