Texans News

Daniels' loss might be Walter's gain
Comment
November 7
Houston Chronicle
 
"Starting with Sunday's game at Indianapolis, receiver Kevin Walter could benefit the most from Pro Bowl tight end Owen Daniels being lost for the season because of a knee injury. Daniels had 40 catches for 519 yards and five touchdowns before he was injured. After missing the first two games because of a hamstring injury, Walter has been limited to 22 receptions for 261 yards and one touchdown. Walter is ready and eager to have more passes thrown to him, and the Colts game at Lucas Oil Stadium would be a good time to start. "Owen's a warrior, and we'll miss him, but there will be more opportunities for the rest of us to make plays," Walter said. "Guys have to step up because more balls ..."
Houston's defense finally turns the corner
Comment
November 6
Indianapolis Star
 
"It's hard to imagine a new defensive coordinator getting off to a worse start than Frank Bush. After three games, the Houston Texans were 1-2 and reeling. They had allowed 28.7 points a game and 437.7 yards, including 205 against the run. They were on a pace to allow more yards and yards rushing than any defense in history. Critics insisted Bush was in over his head, just another hire by coach Gary Kubiak because of his Denver Broncos background. Kubiak and Bush acknowledged they were terrible, but they also said they knew the reasons -- four big plays caused by players being out of position. The key, then, wasn't to change the strategy but to change the players. Over the past five games, ..."
Schaub making a name for himself
Comment
November 6
Indianapolis Star
 
"The names, Manning and Brady and Favre, simply roll off the tongue. They are the triumvirate of current sure-fire Hall of Famers, and all of them are having great seasons. So who leads the NFL in passing yards so far this year? Can you guess? The answer, somewhat surprisingly, is Matt Schaub, the anonymous quarterback of the Houston Texans. Schaub comes to town Sunday with 2,342 yards, 115 more than the Indianapolis Colts' Peyton Manning, albeit with one more game played. New England's Tom Brady is fifth with 2,032 yards and Minnesota's Brett Favre is eighth with 1,925. Most importantly, Schaub has the Texans (5-3) off to the best start in the franchise's eight-year history. The sixth-year ..."
Cushing limited, Cody held out of Texans practice
Comment
November 6
Houston Chronicle
 
"Defensive tackle Shaun Cody joined rookie linebacker Brian Cushing on the sidelines at Texans practice Thursday. Head coach Gary Kubiak said Cody received "an injection" for a back problem after missing Wednesday's workout. "I'm hoping he'll be able to practice tomorrow," Kubiak said. "We'll see. The back does concern us." Cushing, of course, has been limited in practice on a regular basis for several weeks now because of a sore foot. Not that it has mattered much, given that he has twice been named AFC Defensive Player of the Week since the injury occurred. "We're trying to get him through the bye (next week) clean and then he'll have time to rest his foot," Kubiak said. "We had him do ..."
No decision made at running back
Comment
November 6
Houston Chronicle
 
"Defensive tackle Shaun Cody joined rookie linebacker Brian Cushing on the sidelines at Texans practice Thursday. Coach Gary Kubiak said Cody received an injection for a back problem after missing Wednesday's workout. "I'm hoping he'll be able to practice tomorrow," Kubiak said. "We'll see. The back does concern us." Cushing has been held out of practice on a regular basis for several weeks because of a sore foot. Not that it has mattered, given that he has twice been named AFC Defensive Player of the Week since the injury occurred. "We're trying to get him through the bye (next week) clean, and then he'll have time to rest his foot," Kubiak said. "We had him do some stuff yesterday because ..."
Daniels' injury affects more than TE slot
Comment
November 6
Houston Chronicle
 
"I'm worried that some Texans fans might not understand how devastating the loss of Owen Daniels could be for the offense since the Texans cranked out 21 fourth-quarter points with Daniels out. But fantasy owners already know that if they've been leaning on Daniels all year, they are in trouble now. I have Daniels in one of my leagues and as I perused the waiver wire on Tuesday morning in an effort to locate a replacement, I realized all the legitimate pass catchers and difference-makers at the tight end position are gone. Having a strong tight end is like having an extra starter in your lineup since some teams wait far too long to address the position in their draft and end up with the ..."
Williams has to answer questions at Indy
Comment
November 6
Houston Chronicle
 
"The Texans drafted Mario Williams to get Peyton Manning, but considering the puny pass rush he's provided over the first half of the season, that doesn't seem possible when they play at Indianapolis on Sunday. Williams is supposed to be one of the most feared NFL pass rushers, but he has fewer sacks at the midway point than any season of his career. Williams has three sacks, one more than Jeff Zgonina, 39, who was the oldest defensive starter in the league until New England linebacker Junior Seau came out of retirement more than Brett Favre. Williams' injured shoulder must be much worse than the Texans are telling us. How else do you explain 39 players having more sacks than the top pick ..."
Making it look simple
Comment
November 6
Houston Chronicle
 
"When Peyton Manning is inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, he'll surely at least consider inviting the Texans' defense — circa 2002-08 — to the ceremony en masse. No one group has contributed more to Manning's mythic standing in the game's hierarchy. The Texans had the misfortune of joining the NFL just as Manning, entering his fourth season, was in full flower, having become a quarterback determined to finish his journey in Canton, Ohio. Worse, they got stuck in the same division with him, and it has been one bumpy ride, particularly when their (not-yet) rivalry makes its annual pit stop in Indianapolis. The numbers are even worse than you think. Manning, 33, has thrown 239 ..."
In a down economy, NFL viewership is up
Comment
November 6
Washington Post
 
"When this NFL season began with some franchises struggling to sell tickets, there were concerns about the impact that the uncertain U.S. economy would have on the nation's most prosperous sport. While those concerns have turned out to be justified in a few NFL cities and unfounded in others, there has been an unforeseen development: The NFL's television ratings are soaring this season, and some analysts say it appears to be the result of consumers cutting back on other, more costly leisure activities in favor of watching pro football on TV. "I think there's only one answer and that is the NFL and television are actually getting the so-called 'benefit' of the recession," said Neal Pilson, ..."
DE Nading gets his chance
Comment
November 5
Houston Chronicle
 
"Cushing in elite company Brian Cushing was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in the 31-10 win at Buffalo. The linebacker had 10 tackles, an interception and a sack. It's the second time this season the NFL has honored Cushing. No other rookie has won one of the weekly awards. Joining Cushing as the only players to win two are Brett Favre, Tom Brady and Drew Brees. "It's special," Cushing said. "It's a good thing, but it's Wednesday; I'm over it. I have to be because you can't rest on something like that." A committee approach Coach Gary Kubiak won't say who's going to start at running back against the Colts but did say that Steve Slaton, Ryan Moats and Chris Brown ..."
Is he prepared? No doubt
Comment
November 5
Houston Chronicle
 
"Receiver David Anderson said the Texans' new starting tight end, Joel Dreessen, is so dedicated he eats pages out of the playbook to make sure he's prepared for a game. Anderson was speaking figuratively, of course. "David lived with me for two years, and I was always at the desk looking things over while he was playing video games," Dreessen said with a grin after Wednesday's practice. "I definitely spend my fair share of time studying. "I'm just one of those people that's pretty meticulous about knowing what I need to know." Dreessen (6-4, 248) has some big shoulder pads to fill against Indianapolis because he's replacing Pro Bowler Owen Daniels, who was placed on injured reserve. "I ..."
Texans getting defensive
Comment
November 4
Houston Chronicle
 
"It's hard to imagine a new defensive coordinator getting off to a worse start than Frank Bush. After three games, the Texans were 1-2. They allowed 28.7 points a game. They surrendered 437.7 yards, including 205 against the run. They were on a pace to allow more yards and more yards rushing than any defense in history. Fans and media insisted Bush was in over his head, just another coach Gary Kubiak hired because of his Denver Broncos background. Kubiak and Bush admitted they were terrible, but they also said they knew the reasons — four big plays caused by players being out of position. The key, then, wasn't to change the strategy but to change the players. 'Anything it takes' Over the ..."
Big games loom on schedule for Texans
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November 4
Houston Chronicle
 
"At the midway point of the season, the Texans are 5-3 for the first time. They are 3-1 on the road for the first time. Can they win at Indianapolis for the first time? "Going to Indy is our No. 1 challenge," coach Gary Kubiak said about Sunday's game at Lucas Oil Stadium. "They're undefeated. It's difficult (to play there) with their crowd. They've got one of the greatest quarterbacks (Peyton Manning) to play this game. "Those things add up, but we're looking forward to it." The Texans have bounced back from a 1-2 start to win four of five, including a three-game winning streak. Now they face the most important stretch of the season — four consecutive games against AFC South opponents, ..."
Kubiak in no rush to name starter at running back
Comment
November 3
Houston Chronicle
 
"Texans coach Gary Kubiak didn't disclose Monday who will start at running back against Indianapolis but said Steve Slaton, Ryan Moats and Chris Brown will see action. "I'm going to play them all," he said. "I'm in no hurry to make that decision, but, obviously, we're going to need all three of them. We'll make a decision when we get to Indianapolis." Slaton has been the starter but was benched Sunday after losing his fifth fumble of the season at Buffalo. Moats played for the second time this season and finished with 23 carries for 126 yards and a team-record three TDs. The starter must be able to block and catch as well as run. "Protecting Matt (Schaub) is a huge priority," Kubiak said. ..."
Texans down two for clash against the Colts
Comment
November 3
Houston Chronicle
 
"As if the Texans didn't have enough problems losing Pro Bowl tight end Owen Daniels for the season, they will have to play at Indianapolis without rookie James Casey, who had a knee scoped Monday. Daniels, who suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in Sunday's 31-10 victory at Buffalo, will undergo season-ending surgery once the swelling subsides in about two weeks. "It's a big blow to our team," coach Gary Kubiak said about Daniels. "I just feel bad for him. He was having a tremendous season, and we're going to miss him big time. "But he'll get well, and he'll be back better than ever." If everything goes according to plan and Daniels takes eight months to recover, he'll be ready for ..."
Injury offers chance to prove front office wrong — again
Comment
November 3
Houston Chronicle
 columnist Richard Justice
"There's not a better tight end in the NFL than Owen Daniels. If it's any consolation, he proved what he set out to prove. He's right there in the conversation with Dallas Clark, Jason Witten and the others. How about Tampa Bay's Kellen Winslow? He's one of the gold standards for tight ends in terms of salary. Daniels has more catches, more yards, more touchdowns. He entered Sunday's game at Buffalo leading all NFL tight ends in yardage and was second in receptions and touchdowns. When his right knee blew up, he was on a pace for 80 catches, 1,000 yards, 10 touchdowns and a second straight Pro Bowl appearance. He was also one of the NFL's best bargains at $2.79 million. That's the one-year ..."
Texans' Daniels to undergo surgery for ACL injury
Comment
November 2
Houston Chronicle
 
"Texans Pro Bowl tight end Owen Daniels suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and will undergo season-ending surgery. Daniels suffered the injury while running a pass route in the second quarter of Sunday's 31-10 victory over the Buffalo Bills. Daniels, who went to the Pro Bowl last season, was off to the best start of his career with 41 catches."
Air traffic control: Bills need to contain Matt Schaub
Comment
November 2
Buffalo News
 
"They made quarterbacks Mark Sanchez and Jake Delhomme look bad the past two weeks. They held superstar passers Drew Brees and Tom Brady in relative check. The Buffalo Bills' pass defenders are having a good season. Their ability to keep it going against the Houston Texans will be a huge factor in today's game at Ralph Wilson Stadium, because it's going to be very hard for the Bills' offense to keep pace with the Texans' offense. Consider: Houston ranks third in the NFL in passing. The Bills are 28th."
Four more starters injured, three of them on defense
Comment
November 2
Buffalo News
 
"The Buffalo Bills' already-long injury list grew longer Sunday as four more starters got hurt during a 31-10 loss to the Houston Texans. Right tackle Jamon Meredith was the first to go down, suffering a sprained right knee in the first quarter. He has started the last three games for Jonathan Scott, who is sidelined with a sprained ankle. The defense, which was already missing three starters, lost defensive end Aaron Schobel, outside linebacker Keith Ellison and free safety Jairus Byrd. Schobel left the field after hurting his groin late in first half. He returned to the sideline before halftime, but stayed inside for the second half. Ellison joined Schobel on the sideline in the first ..."
A winded Bills defense fails to hold its ground
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November 2
Buffalo News
 
"Marcus Stroud ripped his helmet off and slammed it to the turf. The Buffalo Bills defensive tackle was frustrated that the Houston Texans' offense kept moving up and down the field, and neither he nor his teammates could do anything to stop it. "Toward the end of the game we let them run the ball down our throat," Stroud said. "We're much better than that. We fight harder than that. We just weren't making it happen and it pissed me off. "I'm a competitor, man. I never want to walk off the field and feel like somebody imposed their will on us and I felt they did that." The Bills lost, 31-10, on Sunday largely because of their inability to stop the Texans, who scored three fourth-quarter ..."
Bills' offense remains miserable in loss to Texans
Comment
November 2
Buffalo News
 
"Here's a suggestion for the Buffalo Bills organization. On those rare occasions when the Bills actually score, the team should put the words to the "Shout" song on the scoreboard, for all the fans to follow. It happens so infrequently, who can remember how the song goes anymore? The Bills' offense reached one of its lowest points in franchise history in the wake of Sunday's 31-10 loss to the Houston Texans. If you weren't one of the 69,790 at Ralph Wilson Stadium on Sunday, you didn't miss a thing. The game was identical to the loss to New Orleans five weeks ago. It was all-too-similar to the home losses to Cleveland, New England, San Francisco and Miami in the past 12 months. The Bills' ..."
Defense pays the price for a worthless offense
Comment
November 2
Buffalo News
 columnist Bob DiCesare
"Nobility ran rampant in the Buffalo Bills locker room Sunday afternoon as the defense attempted to exonerate the offense for the second-half whipping inflicted by the Houston Texans. Defenders blamed themselves for Houston's 22 fourth-quarter points. They insisted there's no excuse for allowing the Texans to put a 22-minute stranglehold on the football in the second half. "We're on the field a lot, but if that's the way it's going to be, that's the way it's going to be," said linebacker Paul Posluszny. "It's something that we're going to have to deal with throughout the year. We want to be out there because we feel it gives us an opportunity to make plays. The third and fourth quarter, we ..."
Moats grabs chance and runs with it
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November 2
Houston Chronicle
 
"The first time Texans running back Steve Slaton touched the ball Sunday, on a dump pass from Matt Schaub, he cradled it in both hands well before he collided with Buffalo cornerback Terrence McGee. Slaton's propensity to fumble this season — he had lost four, twice as many as all of last year — had become a worry for the Texans, and the NFL's 2008 rookie rushing champion seemed determined to put the problem behind him. But he hadn't. Two series later, after fielding another short pass from Schaub, he got the ball swatted loose, and that was the end of his workday. Three-touchdown day Benched in favor of Ryan Moats, Slaton must be wondering if he'll get his starting job back. The previously ..."
Schaub continues to evolve as starting QB
Comment
November 2
Houston Chronicle
 
"More evidence of how Matt Schaub has evolved in his third season as a starter could be found in his recovery from the two interceptions he threw in the first quarter. "I told him that after a team starts a game like this," coach Gary Kubiak said, "there's only one player who can bail it out, and that's the quarterback. You got to let it go and play lights-out from here on out, and that's what he did. He's got that poise about him. I'm very proud of how he handled the team." Players feel for Daniels Tight end Owen Daniels' teammates felt terrible for him after they learned he's probably gone for the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. "It's tough, real tough," ..."
A winning attitude emerges
Comment
November 2
Houston Chronicle
 columnist Jerome Solomon
"Over the years the Texans have herded excuses like buffalo, rounding them up to explain disaster, collapse, defeat. So they roll into Buffalo to face the Bills, and the excuses were circling Ralph Wilson Stadium, almost begging to be corralled. From perhaps their most important weapon going down to a season-ending injury, to oddly tipped balls turning into interceptions, to their best running back continuing to cough the ball up as if he has the pigskin flu, it all could have snowballed. Actually there was little chance of that. There wasn't a snowball's chance in Buffalo of the Texans falling apart Sunday, and not just because it was a downright balmy 49 degrees at kickoff, which is ..."
Ryans & Co. turn into 60-minute men
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November 2
Houston Chronicle
 
"For the first time this season, the Texans' defense played well for 60 minutes. And it couldn't have happened at a better time, considering how bad the offense was in the first quarter, when it committed three turnovers. Thanks to the defense, the Texans trailed the Buffalo Bills only 7-0 after the first quarter. "We finally played a complete game," middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans said after the 31-10 win. "We stepped up when our offense was struggling with the turnovers. "As a defense, we just kept battling, and we knew that we had to win this game for our offense. We held out long enough for them to get going." Devalued Bills It helped that Buffalo's offense was one of the worst in the ..."
Texans' Daniels out for the season
Comment
November 1
ESPN.com
 
"Texans tight end Owen Daniels is done for the rest of the season after suffering a knee injury on Sunday, a team source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. Daniels suffered what was originally diagnosed as a sprain of his right knee in the first quarter of Houston's 31-10 win over the Buffalo Bills. Daniels was hurt during Houston's second possession Sunday. It's unclear how he was hurt, the player going down near the line of scrimmage before Matt Schaub underthrew a pass intended for Kevin Walter. Daniels lay on the field for several minutes before being helped up by trainers. He was unable to put much weight on his right leg as he was escorted to the sideline, where he had a bag of ice ..."
Texans' Daniels out with sprained knee
Comment
November 1
NFL.com
 
"The Houston Texans lost one of their key playmakers early against the Bills Sunday when TE Owen Daniels left the game during the first quarter with a sprained right knee. He is listed as questionable to return. Daniels went immediately to the sideline after the injury and was being checked out on a trainers' table. He has been replaced by Joel Dreessen."
Maturing talent jells for Texans
Comment
November 1
Buffalo News
 
"The Houston Texans have never had a winning season in their eight-year existence. But with the talent they are assembling, success may be close at hand. Teams that win consistently in the NFL have elite players. On offense, the Texans have a potential franchise quarterback in Matt Schaub, an All-Pro wide receiver in Andre Johnson, an explosive running back in Steve Slaton and a future Pro Bowl left tackle in Duane Brown. Their defense features Pro Bowlers in defensive end Mario Williams and middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans and a top-flight cornerback in Dunta Robinson. With major-league talent at all the key positions, the pieces are in place for the Texans to be competitive every Sunday. ..."
Bills to get tested by Texans' passing game
Comment
November 1
Buffalo News
 
"They made quarterbacks Mark Sanchez and Jake Delhomme look bad the past two weeks. They held superstar passers Drew Brees and Tom Brady in relative check. The Buffalo Bills' pass defenders are having a good season. Their ability to keep it going against the Houston Texans will be a huge factor in today's game at Ralph Wilson Stadium, because it's going to be very hard for the Bills' offense to keep pace with the Texans' offense. Consider: Houston ranks third in the NFL in passing. The Bills are 28th."
Confronting Buffalo curse
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November 1
Houston Chronicle
 
"Spooky. How perfect, or perfectly awful, is it that the Texans should have been made to visit this most haunted of houses on Halloween weekend. Ralph Wilson Stadium is the scariest place on earth for the tortured souls of Houston's football fans. Day of the dead? No, decades. The sad history is cross-generational, too. As the Oilers suffered, so have the Texans. Warren Moon's most inglorious, even humiliating, defeats happened here. He never won in Buffalo as an Oiler. Backup Tony Banks was the quarterback of record in a rare Houston victory at "The Ralph" in 2003, but the goblins made starter David Carr pay for it on the subsequent visit, when a poor effort revealed the cold, hard truth ..."
Maturing talent jells for Texans
Comment
October 31
Buffalo News
 
"The Houston Texans have never had a winning season in their eight-year existence. But with the talent they are assembling, success may be close at hand. Teams that win consistently in the NFL have elite players. On offense, the Texans have a potential franchise quarterback in Matt Schaub, an All-Pro wide receiver in Andre Johnson, an explosive running back in Steve Slaton and a future Pro Bowl left tackle in Duane Brown. Their defense features Pro Bowlers in defensive end Mario Williams and middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans and a top-flight cornerback in Dunta Robinson. With major-league talent at all the key positions, the pieces are in place for the Texans to be competitive every Sunday. ..."
Texans recall nightmare game from Bills WR Evans
Comment
October 31
Houston Chronicle
 
"Because today is Halloween, Texans coach Gary Kubiak watched a horror film. It was the Texans' 24-21 loss to Buffalo in 2006, Kubiak's first season as coach. What frightened Kubiak the most was watching receiver Lee Evans catch two 83-yard touchdown passes in the first quarter and finish with 11 catches for 265 yards. "Since Dick (Jauron) is still their coach, I went back and watched that game," Kubiak said Friday. "Those were two huge plays in the first quarter. They were big plays against man coverage, double moves. But he makes big plays against a lot of people." If Evans makes those kind of plays, the Texans won't be 5-3 for the first time. "It was an amazing performance, just ..."
Schaub unseasonably cool come rain or shine
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October 30
Houston Chronicle
 
"On New Year's Eve 2006, in his last appearance as a little-used Atlanta Falcon, Matt Schaub braved the elements and the most inhospitable of crowds in relief of Michael Vick, holding his own against the playoff-bound Philadelphia Eagles. The Texans likely played that video backward, forward and sideways while they pondered cutting their losses with the exasperating David Carr and making Schaub their new centerpiece. It proved something of a false read, though. Schaub endured a number of disconcerting afternoons on the road in his first season-and-a-half in Houston, grappling with the responsibilities of being the starter with whom the buck stops. Progress came in fits and spurts. Last year ..."
Johnson looks good
Comment
October 30
Houston Chronicle
 
"Receiver Andre Johnson participated fully in the Texans practice Thursday, showing no ill effects from the lung bruise he suffered against the 49ers and seemingly leaving little doubt about his being ready for the Bills on Sunday. "He took pretty close to all the reps he normally takes, and he didn't have any problems," coach Gary Kubiak said. "It's not Sunday yet, but I was very encouraged." Johnson, who will wear a padded extension to his shoulder pads to protect his chest, had already insisted nothing was going to keep him out of the game. Nonetheless, the Texans were sending him back to the doctor for another thorough examination, just to make sure nothing has been missed. "I feel ..."
Edwards won't play Sunday
Comment
October 29
Buffalo News
 
"Ryan Fitzpatrick will make his first career home start for the Buffalo Bills on Sunday when the Houston Texans visit Ralph Wilson Stadium. It might not be on an interim basis, either. Despite starting quarterback Trent Edwards being medically cleared to return to practice after suffering a concussion Oct. 18 against the New York Jets, Bills coach Dick Jauron declared him out for Sunday's game, and more importantly would not commit to him as the starter when he is fully recovered. "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it," is all Jauron had to say about who might start when Edwards is healthy enough to play. Houston Chronicle staff discusses injuries and the Buffalo Bills. Fitzpatrick ..."
Banged-up players expected to play against the Bills
Comment
October 29
Houston Chronicle
 
"Davis steps up Because receiver Andre Johnson didn't practice Wednesday, André Davis was working with the first team opposite Kevin Walter. Johnson expects to play at Buffalo, but Davis is getting ready just in case. "It's huge," coach Gary Kubiak said about having Davis. "All you got to do is go back and look at the (San Francisco) game. No Andre. (We) need a couple of first downs. It's second-and-10, and he (Davis) runs a great (route), picks up a first down. "We have a lot of confidence in all of our receivers, and our play calling doesn't change." Injury update Receiver Andre Johnson (lung), linebacker Brian Cushing (foot) and safety Eugene Wilson (groin) didn't practice. Cornerback ..."
Texans WR Johnson expected to play against Bills
Comment
October 29
Houston Chronicle
 
"Receiver Andre Johnson did not practice Wednesday because of the bruised lung he suffered in the Texans' victory over San Francisco, but he vowed to be ready to play against Buffalo. "I feel like I'll be out there unless they cut my leg off," Johnson said. Johnson suffered the injury while making an 18-yard catch in the second quarter and aggravated it in the fourth quarter on a 44-yard reception. He had trouble breathing and coughed up blood before he was taken to the hospital for tests. "To be honest, I didn't know what it was," Johnson said. "When I was on the ground spitting, I was like, 'What's wrong with me?' It scared me a little because I've never had that happen. "I did have ..."
McNair's Texans remain a work in progress
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October 28
Houston Chronicle
 
"With the Texans having played and won their final game in October, it seems timely to make note of two significant franchise milestones before the month slips away. • • The team, awarded to Houston entrepreneur Robert McNair on Oct. 6, 1999, was born 10 years ago. • • It was five years ago this weekend that the Texans last owned a winning record so "late" in a season. The 2004 Texans defeated Jacksonville 20-6 on Oct. 31 to improve to 4-3, the same as they are today. What's to be hoped going forward is that history doesn't repeat. "I think we're much further along now as a team than we were then," McNair said. "I was encouraged (in 2004), but I didn't believe we were there yet, by any ..."
No excuses for defense
Comment
October 27
Houston Chronicle
 
"Steve Slaton has lost four fumbles in seven games, but he's scored five touchdowns. He's too valuable to the running and passing games to spend much time on the bench being penalized for losing the ball. "It's a concern when you put it on the ground as much as he has," coach Gary Kubiak said. "It's a concern to him. I believe in Steve, and our team believes in him and trusts that to be successful and accomplish some of the things we want to accomplish as a team, we need Steve making those plays. "We've got to stand behind him. To me, it's up to all of us to help him get over this issue — me, (running backs coach) Chick (Harris), everybody on the staff, the whole team helping him in ..."
Texans WR Johnson day-to-day with lung contusion
Comment
October 27
Houston Chronicle
 
"The Texans say they expect receiver Andre Johnson to be ready to play against Buffalo on Sunday, but after revising their postgame evaluation from chest contusion to lung contusion Monday, the truth is no one knows. Coach Gary Kubiak doesn't know if Johnson, who has 38 catches for 634 yards and four touchdowns, will be able to practice this week when the Texans prepare for the game against the Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Johnson, 28, doesn't have to practice to be able to play. "He's going to be day-to-day as we go into this week," Kubiak said Monday. "They'll do some tests on him each day as we go through this week, but I think we're fortunate, and, hopefully, he'll be ready to go ..."
Texans WR Johnson day-to-day with lung contusion
Comment
October 26
Houston Chronicle
 
"Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson has a lung contusion and is listed as day-to-day for Sunday's game against Buffalo, coach Gary Kubiak said Monday. Johnson will undergo tests throughout the week before a decision is made on his availability. "We're fortunate here," Kubiak said."
Fitzpatrick to start against Texans
Comment
October 26
Buffalo News
 
"Coach Dick Jauron got right to the point Monday when discussing the quarterback situation, ruling Trent Edwards out for Sunday's game against the Houston Texans. "Trent will not play this week. That's the, as far as I understand it from [head trainer] Bud [Carpenter] and our doctors, that's the proper protocol. That's the conservative approach and the approach we'll take," Jauron said. That means Ryan Fitzpatrick will get his first home start as the Bills look to run their winning streak to three games. Jauron said Edwards is physically active now as he recovers from his second concussion in the span of a year."
Smith resurfaces in loss
Comment
October 26
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Keep in mind that Mike Singletary is usually parsimonious in his praise of players, even those at football's most important position. But even this no-nonsense coach might be swayed when he analyzes how Smith, playing in his first game in nearly two years, rallied the 49ers from an 0-21 hole at halftime to an eventual 24-21 defeat to the Houston Texans on Sunday at Reliant Stadium. Smith threw three touchdown passes in the second half, all to tight end Vernon Davis, after Singletary pulled Shaun Hill at halftime for ineffectiveness. "It looked like he didn't have a chance," Singletary said of Hill. "I just felt it was time to make the switch, simple as that. ... I don't know if it's Alex ..."
49ers, Singletary were ready to flip the switch
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October 26
San Jose Mercury News
 columnist Tim Kawakami
"He wasn't the second coming of Joe Montana, obviously. Not ever. But maybe Alex Smith can pull off something almost as remarkable after his long NFL hibernation. Can he be the successful second coming of "... Alex Smith? What a tale that would be. It won't happen overnight. But one essential part of the Smith resurrection story took place in a blink: With the 49ers trailing 21-0 Sunday in a game they would go on to lose 24-21, coach Mike Singletary decided to sit Shaun Hill and put in Smith to start the second half. Just like that, the 49ers' universe changed. It was a surprise to Smith — "I wasn't sure, I guess I was ready for anything," he said later. A surprise to his offensive ..."
49ers' Crabtree quickly up to speed
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October 26
San Jose Mercury News
 
"On the first snap of his NFL career, Michael Crabtree had a miscommunication with quarterback Shaun Hill. When the rookie receiver got to the sideline, coach Mike Singletary was waiting for him. "Do you know what you're doing?" Singletary asked. Crabtree assured him that he did. And then he proved it. The long-awaited first-round pick had five catches for 56 yards in his professional debut. More important than the numbers were the glimpses Crabtree showed of being a go-to guy. Four of his catches came on third down, and three of them moved the chains. "He did a heck of a job," Singletary said. "He's going to be a great player for us," Hill said. "I saw a guy that's going to be a good ..."
49ers' Smith nearly leads big comeback
Comment
October 26
San Jose Mercury News
 
"Before choosing the 49ers' starting quarterback for next week, coach Mike Singletary said he needed to review the game film of the 24-21 loss to the Houston Texans But it's hard to believe that film will contain a surprise ending: Alex Smith looks like the 49ers' new leading man. Coming off the bench at halftime Sunday, Smith nearly rallied the 49ers from a 21-point deficit, taking jumper cables to an offensive engine that had long looked kaput. He completed 15 of 22 passes for 206 yards and three touchdowns. In other words, Smith needed only one half to approach Shaun Hill's best yardage total of the season (209 yards on Sept. 13). He established an immediate rapport with Vernon Davis, ..."
Spencer corners Texans' Johnson
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October 26
Sacramento Bee
 
"Cornerback Shawntae Spencer on Sunday made a strong argument that he, not Nate Clements, is the top coverage man on the 49ers' defense. For most of the game, Spencer lined up across from Houston wide receiver Andre Johnson, who entered the game ranked second in the league in receiving yards. Johnson caught two passes in the Texans' 24-21 victory, one in zone coverage and the other - a 44-yarder in the fourth quarter - with Spencer draped all over him. Spencer said he nearly broke up the pass. "I had my hand on it. I thought I got it out," Spencer said. Johnson caught the pass, which led to a 50-yard field goal by Kris Brown that extended Houston's lead to 24-14. Johnson left the game two ..."
A stretch of wins
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October 26
Houston Chronicle
 
"After playing a flawless first half and building a three-touchdown lead against the San Francisco 49ers, the Texans let their imperfections show, and it almost cost them a second consecutive victory. With two former presidents, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush, serving as honorary captains for their Salute to the Military Day, the Texans managed to escape Reliant Stadium with a 24-21 victory on Sunday. In registering their first winning streak of the season, the Texans ruined 49ers coach Mike Singletary's homecoming and improved their record to 4-3 going into next Sunday's game at Buffalo. San Francisco dropped to 3-3. "A win is a win, ugly or pretty," cornerback Dunta Robinson said. ..."
Kubiak's faith goes rewarded
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October 26
Houston Chronicle
 columnist Richard Justice
"With the game slipping away, Gary Kubiak made two important decisions. First, he would not give up on the pass. Second, he would not give up on Steve Slaton. The Texans opened Sunday afternoon with maybe the best half of football they've played. They ended it with more proof they're not a finished product. Won't you just listen to me? Sound like a whiny Cowboys fan, don't I? After all the losses and all the disappointment, our little team is playing so well we can quibble about style points. The Texans defeated the San Francisco 49ers 24-21 on Sunday at Reliant Stadium, and if you don't think that's enough of an accomplishment in itself, you haven't been paying attention. The Texans have ..."