Three Texans players missed practice on Monday as the team returned from a five-day break for the bye week.
Running back Ben Tate was out with a hamstring injury. Inside linebacker Darryl Sharpton has still not been removed from the Physically Unable to Perform list because of a quadriceps injury. Nose tackle Shaun Cody, who has had a back issue in recent weeks, was held out for rest.
Texans coach Gary Kubiak expects Tate to miss at least a couple of days and isn't sure if he will be able to play against the Buffalo Bills in Week 9. Kubiak said the Texans are confident in third running back Justin Forsett and may have to consider signing rookie Davin Meggett from their practice squad.
"He's going to miss some time here," Kubiak said of Tate. "You're not going to see him back all of a sudden in the next day or two… The fact that we come back from the time off and we're back on the field and he's not quite ready to be working with the trainers and stuff tells me that he's definitely a few days away. I'm not going to rule anything out, but I don't know if he'll be back Wednesday, neither."
Sharpton tore his right quadriceps tendon last season in Week 8. He suffered a setback in his rehab in the first week of training camp, a hip issue that landed him on the PUP list. Had he been healthy this offseason, he would have competed with Bradie James for a starting job.
The deadline for Sharpton to return to practice is Nov. 7. From the day he starts practicing, the Texans have three more weeks to activate him. If either deadline passes, Sharpton will remain on PUP for the rest of the year.
"Sharp is very, very close to going on the field," Kubiak said. "Remember, we control his clock… We're not going to put him out there until we're ready to find out if he's ready to go and help us actively. We do not feel that way right now. How we feel that way Wednesday, I don't know, but not yet. We have not turned him loose yet."
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