Duane Brown did not practice Wednesday and will be a gametime decision for the Texans Week 2 matchup at Carolina. The All-Pro left tackle played in the season opener, despite wearing a cast for his injured right thumb.
"Look, he's going to go through the week here and see how it goes, in the training room, out on the practice field," head coach Bill O'Brien said Wednesday. "I don't think we'll know anything about Duane until gametime. I really don't. I think it's going to be that type of deal."
The eighth-year veteran hasn't missed a game since a toe injury kept him off the field in Weeks 3 (at Baltimore) and 4 (vs. Seattle) of the 2013 season. If Brown can't play Sunday against the Panthers, the Texans offensive line will have to undergo some reshuffling.
"Without getting into the details of it, I'll tell you that we're going to have to mix and match some guys," O'Brien said. "We're going to have to move some guys around, play some guys at some different positions and I think that's a credit to everybody here, especially those guys that we have some versatile guys that can play different positions."
As for Brown, he'll be evaluated as the week progresses. Much of the decision will also be based on how he feels heading into Sunday's game.
"Duane and I have a great relationship and I think it's more about communication with a veteran player who's a tough, tough guy," O'Briens said. "So if he can go, he'll go. If he can't, he can't. we'll make the best decision for him and the team."
The (0-1) Texans and (1-0) Panthers will kickoff Sunday at noon on CBS KHOU-11 and SportsRadio 610.
Texans players attended several community events around Houston on Tuesday.
