"The Texans will play their last three games without defensive end Mario Williams, guard Mike Brisiel and receiver David Anderson, all of whom were placed on injured reserve on Wednesday.

Williams, who led the team with 8 1

2 sacks, 19 hits on the quarterback and 10 tackles for loss, had been playing with a sports hernia. He'll be replaced by Mark Anderson and Tim Jamison.

Anderson, who has three sacks, backed up Williams on the left side, where he started. Jamison backed up Williams on the right side, where he moved in passing situations.

"I'd love for Mario to hang in there, but it wasn't getting better," coach Gary Kubiak said after practice on Wednesday. "Last week was the worst."

Williams, who didn't show up in the defensive statistics in the 34-28 overtime loss to Baltimore, will undergo surgery on Tuesday.

"It's been a tough, tough road for him," Kubiak said. "We'll get him well, and obviously, Mario's got a tremendous future as a big part of this organization.

"Ever since he walked into this town (2006), he's played every game. There's a lot to be said for what he's been doing, but now it's time to do what's best for Mario."

The Texans are expected to sign veteran defensive end Jarvis Green to take Williams' spot on the roster.

"He needs to get his body right so he can play tip-top next year," defensive end Antonio Smith said. "He was fighting. You could tell he was in a lot of pain in every game he played in. He'd have to come out and get stretched, whatever it took. It was hard for him to play with it. "