Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson will not play in Week 14 at Cincinnati because of a left hamstring injury. Wide receiver Kevin Walter is questionable for the game with an illness.
Jacoby Jones will start against the Bengals for Johnson, who did not practice this week after getting injured against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.
"He's made progress this week," Texans coach Gary Kubiak said. "Made a decision this morning just to leave him in there (training room) and continue to work him, so we'll go back in the next week and see where we're at."
Johnson said he doesn't know if he'll be able to play next week, calling it a "day-by-day thing." The five-time Pro Bowler was able to run on a treadmill on Friday as part of his rehab.
This will be the seventh game that Johnson misses this season. He sat out six games with a right hamstring injury suffered in Week 4 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
"It's very disappointing," Johnson said on Friday. "You work your butt off to get back after missing six games, and then to have something like this to happen again is very frustrating. But at the same time, the team's in a great position and I'm just trying to do everything I can to get back so that I can get back out on the field and play."
Walter, who would become the Texans' No. 1 receiver with Johnson out, was sick on Friday and not at practice.
"It takes a lot to keep Kevin off the field, so until we get to tomorrow morning and he tells me he's ready to go, yeah, I'm a little bit concerned," Kubiak said. "But I know Kevin. He'll do everything he can to get there, and I know playing back in Cincinnati is always big for him, but we'll see what happens."
The questionable desgination means Walter has a 50-50 chance of playing, but it would be a surprise if he sits out on Sunday. Earlier this season, he reportedly broke his shoulder against the Indianapolis Colts but ended up missing only one game with what Kubiak called a "bad bruise." He also played for the Bengals from 2003-05.
Jones has started seven times this season. He averages a team-high 17.6 yards per catch on 22 catches for 372 yards with two touchdowns. Veteran wide receivers Derrick Mason and Bryant Johnson will see more playing time this week behind Jones, especially if Walter is unable to play.
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