The Texans have been monitoring the progress of both their top running backs in their return from injuries over the last couple of weeks and it will be a little bit longer before we know if Arian Foster’s hamstring will allow him to face the Colts on Sunday night.
Coach Gary Kubiak said Friday that Foster had a better practice on Friday than he did on Thursday and that he would be a game-time decision on Sunday. Foster hasn’t missed a game since the 2011 season.
When Foster did miss games that year, Ben Tate was the next man up in the backfield. If Foster is absent this weekend, Tate will again be the man in the backfield for Houston. Kubiak said that Tate will play Sunday despite the cracked ribs that have limited him in practice this week.
Should Foster not play, the Texans will have to pick from the three new arrivals to their 53-man roster to spell Tate. Deji Karim, Dennis Johnson and Ray Graham are all possibilities for that role and, given the dual injuries, there could be work for them to do even if Foster is in the lineup.