Running back Ahman Green was a big asset to the Texans' offense when he was in the lineup.
The Texans placed Ahman Green on the reserve/injured list Tuesday with a knee sprain, ending the running back's season with five games left to play.
The 11th-year pro suffered the injury to his left knee Sunday at Cleveland, where he had 13 carries for 39 yards. Green finishes the season with 74 carries for 294 yards (4.0 avg.) with three touchdowns in eight games. In his first season with the Texans in 2007, he totaled 70 carries for 260 yards (3.7 avg.) with two touchdowns in six games before his season was cut short by injury.
Coach Gary Kubiak spoke Monday about Green's status.
{QUOTE}"It's a tough decision for us because you're at a tough period in the season," Kubiak said. "If a player's going to miss a week or two, that's one thing. But if you're looking at three or four weeks, now you start to make different decisions on players at this point in the season because you don't have that many weeks left."
The Texans will rely on rookie sensation Steve Slaton to carry the ground game the rest of the season. Despite a bruised chest, Slaton had a game-high 21 carries for 73 yards (3.5 avg.) against the Browns.
"Steve played hurt for us (Sunday)," Kubiak said. "He's got a severe chest bruise. (He) was not himself but hung in there for the football team and the young kid, Moats, only practiced once last week (due to) an ankle. So, (I'm) very concerned about our running back situation as we move forward."
Reached by phone Tuesday afternoon, Slaton was disappointed to hear the news on Green.
"It's a shame that it came so close to the end of season and that he can't finish it out," Slaton said. "The times that he has been in there with me, we have been a great combination. We have given defenses different looks. It has been hard for them (defenses) to figure us out."
Along with Slaton, running back Ryan Moats will see increased reps, and the Texans signed running back Darius Walker to the practice squad Tuesday for additional depth.
By placing Green on the reserve/injured list, the Texans have one roster spot available. Linebacker Justin Roland was released from the practice squad to make room for Walker, who was the Texans' second-leading rusher in 2007 with 264 yards.
