Heading into their Wild Card playoff game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday at Reliant Stadium, the Texans are as healthy as they have been in a long time.
Three key reserves – cornerback Jason Allen (back), outside linebacker Bryan Braman (neck) and free safety Troy Nolan (ankle) – are listed as questionable. Nobody else's status is in doubt for Saturday's game.
Quarterback T.J. Yates (left shoulder), wide receiver Andre Johnson (hamstring), cornerback Johnathan Joseph (Achilles), right guard Mike Brisiel (ankle) and cornerback Sherrick McManis (ankle) are among 16 Texans players listed as probable. There's a virtual certainty they will play and be available for normal duty.
Allen, who had four interceptions this season while sharing time with Kareem Jackson, and Nolan, the third safety who often plays in nickel packages, were full participants in the Texans' walk-through on Friday. Braman, a special teams standout who suffered a stinger while sacking Matt Hasselbeck last Sunday, was limited.
The Texans are down 12 players on injured reserve, including quarterback Matt Schaub and outside linebacker Mario Williams, but have had the better part of 16 days to rest since a Thursday night game at Indianapolis on Dec. 22. Many of their starters played sparingly or not at all in Week 17.
Bengals rookie quarterback Andy Dalton (illness) is probable. He was a full participant on Friday after missing practice Wednesday with the flu. Bengals running back Cedric Benson (foot) is also probable. Safety Taylor Mays (hamstring) and linebacker Dontay Moch (illness), both backups, are doubtful.
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