Texans defensive end J.J. Watt returned to practice on Thursday after being sent home Wednesday morning because he was sick. Cornerback Johnathan Joseph and four other injured players sat out for the second consecutive day.
Watt, as expected, participated fully in Thursday's practice.
"I don't know that he's feeling 100 percent, but he did practice full-time and should be OK," Texans coach Gary Kubiak said.
Joseph (hamstring/groin), right tackle Derek Newton (knee), inside linebacker Bradie James (hamstring), guard Antoine Caldwell (hamstring) and outside linebacker Brooks Reed (groin) all sat out of practice.
Joseph is the furthest along in his recovery of the injured players. He worked with trainers on a practice field on Wednesday while the others rehabbed inside Reliant Stadium. Joseph did not work with trainers on Thursday but could practice on Friday.
"The trainers just told me they pushed him hard yesterday," Kubiak said. "If we're going to ask him to possibly practice tomorrow, they thought a day off would do him some good, so we just kept him out today."
Reed is out for at least two weeks. Kubiak does not know if Newton, James and Caldwell will be available on Sunday at Tennessee. He said "there's a big difference between those three" and Joseph.
"The fact that they haven't done anything the last two days would concern me a little bit," Kubiak said. "We still got some time on our hands with these guys, and I'll just say the same thing I said before. Brooks we know (is out). These other three, depending on how they continue to come out of this treatment, they could possibly be ready to go."
Nose tackle Shaun Cody (ribs/back) and inside linebacker Tim Dobbins (shoulder) were limited participants in practice again on Thursday. Running back Ben Tate (hamstring) was a full participant. All three are fully expected to play against the Titans.
Kubiak said Tate, who has not played since Week 7, "should be out there helping us on Sunday. There have been no setbacks. He's been fine."
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