"Matt Leinart and Bryant Johnson were teammates in Arizona in 2006 and 2007.

Since Wednesday, they've been reunited with the Texans.

In his debut Thursday against the Vikings, Johnson caught three passes for 64 yards, providing the veteran presence the franchise is seeking beyond its top three options at wide receiver. While Johnson, the ex-49er and Lion, was unsure of how he'd fare Thursday, Leinart had no doubts.

"You know, Bryant is a great receiver," Leinart said. "He's been a part of a lot of offenses and he just signed a couple of days ago and he had a big game tonight. We expect big things out of him."

If he sticks, Johnson, 30, expects big things, too.

"The sky's the limit on this offense and I hope I'm a part of it," he said.

He can't speak in absolutes because he can't be certain he has done enough - in a short amount of time - to warrant a roster spot. But he definitely made an impression on the person that matters the most.

"I think he had three or four catches but he can help us," coach Gary Kubiak said. "He's a veteran player and he's been successful in this league. I think we've been missing that throughout camp with so many young receivers.

"We'll go back to see how he played but I think he should be able to help us.""