While All-Pro WR Andre Johnson's recovery from a hamstring injury he suffered on Oct. 2 against Pittsburgh has gone according to the initial 6-8 week timetable, the Houston Texans training staff has decided to hold him out of Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers:
McClain_on_NFL John McClainGary Kubiak says andre Johnson will not play against Tampa bay.
With a bye week coming up, the team clearly wanted to take all possible precautions before putting him back out on the field. Now, he'll have a full eight weeks off if he returns for Houston's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Nov. 27.
In Johnson's absence, the Texans have become a more ground-oriented offense, and they should have success against Tampa Bay's rushing defense, which gives up 132.4 yards a game, 26th in the NFL.
If the Buccaneers stack the line of scrimmage, it would be a great chance for one of Houston's other wide-outs -- Kevin Walter, Jacoby Jones or the recently acquired Derrick Mason -- to make a play for QB Matt Schaub down the field.