Texans running back Ben Tate did not practice on Wednesday because of a hamstring injury. Starting nose tackle Shaun Cody sat out with a back issue.
Coach Gary Kubiak said he does not expect Tate, who backs up Arian Foster, to practice on Thursday. The Texans claimed Jonathan Grimes off waivers on Wednesday to bolster their depth at running back.
"It's day-to-day with Ben," Kubiak said. "(We) actually didn't even send him to the practice field today; had him stay inside to do his rehab… If I had to guess right now, is he going to be there tomorrow? I would say no, that being our big work day tomorrow, but we'll see."
Tate was injured in Week 7 against the Baltimore Ravens. He stayed in Houston during the Texans' bye week, rehabbing at Reliant Stadium with the team training staff. Tate said Monday that he was "starting to feel better" but admitted to frustration after also missing time earlier this season with a toe injury.
"It's tough," Tate said. "A hamstring is something that you really don't want to push through because that's not an injury that you can necessarily tough it out. Especially at this position, if you tough it out through an injury like this, it usually just makes it worse and makes it worse for the long run. It's something that before I get out there, I definitely want it to be very close to 100 percent."
Kubiak said Cody's absence was "strictly part of a maintenance program" and that he would return on Thursday. An eighth-year veteran, Cody suffered a back injury in the preseason opener at Carolina and has sat out every third or fourth practice for much of the season.
"There is some concern, but he's been able to work through this," Kubiak said. "We dealt with some of it last year. We knew we were going to deal with some of it this year. Shaun is able to play and do his job well even if he does miss some time practice-wise… Bottom line, we don't want to leave his reps on the practice field. We want to make sure they happen on Sundays… Hopefully, we keep our fingers crossed that this program we've got him on holds him up throughout the season."
Safety Quintin Demps was a full participant in practice on Wednesday for the first time since breaking his forearm in Week 4 against Tennessee. Troy Nolan has been filling in for Demps, who has a cast on his left arm, as the backup to starters Danieal Manning and Glover Quin.
"We've still got Troy here," Kubiak said. "The question is, as we watch (Demps) practice with pads, can he wrap up? Can he tackle? Can he do the things with that cast on that he normally does? Because we definitely want him back. Tomorrow is a big day with us making a decision whether he's ready to go back to work."
Wide receiver Andre Johnson missed Wednesday's practice for personal reasons. He will return on Thursday. Center/guard Cody White was sick and not at practice.
Inside linebacker Darryl Sharpton (quadriceps) has still not returned from the Physically Unable to Perform list. He must start practicing by next Wednesday, Nov. 7, to have a chance to play this season.
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