The Texans' national perception may be wounded after Monday night, but they're getting healthier as they prepare for a game against the Indianapolis Colts.
Starting right tackle Derek Newton (knee) and tight end Garrett Graham (concussion) both have a chance to play this week after sitting out Monday with injuries. Newton has been out since injuring the patella tendon in his right knee against the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving.
"He's doing good," Texans coach Gary Kubiak said of Newton on Tuesday afternoon. "Until he's back on the field, I'm not ready to tell you he will be ready to play. I think there's a process that he's got to go through this week, but he did work today and worked well."
Kubiak said Graham will practice on Wednesday. The third-year tight end has 25 catches for 243 yards and three touchdowns this season. With Graham out on Monday, the Texans were down to two healthy tight ends in Owen Daniels and James Casey, who is also the Texans' starting fullback. Andrew Gardner played 11 snaps as a third tackle in the game.
"We missed Garrett; he's a fine player," Kubiak said. "He might be as improved of a football player as we have on this team. He gives us a lot of flexibility in what we do with two tight and three tight (ends). You saw we had a tackle playing some tight end last night.
"It's important (that Graham returns), but also, the most important thing is Garrett's health. He's got one more test to pass, one more phase to pass to be cleared to go on game day. He's making progress, but he was not ready to go (Monday)."
The Texans' only injuries of note from their loss to the Patriots were inside linebackers Tim Dobbins and Darryl Sharpton, who Kubiak said "came out of the game a little banged up."
"Other than that, that's the good thing: We didn't take any steps backwards with anybody physically," Kubiak said. "So we should be OK."
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