The Texans started organized team activities (OTAs) on Monday at the Methodist Training Center, but wide receiver Andre Johnson did not participate in practice.
Afterward, Johnson and Texans coach Gary Kubiak revealed that Johnson, who missed nine games with hamstring injuries last season, had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee two weeks ago. Johnson said he has "no doubt" he will be ready for training camp in late July.
"I feel like maybe in three, four more weeks, I'll be probably ready to go," Johnson said. "It's just a process. I'm not having any issues from the other injuries I had with my hamstrings and stuff like that. I've just been staying on top of things so I won't have to experience those injuries (again).
"It's nothing to panic about. This is my 10th season. I've been through OTAs several times, so I don't really feel like I'm missing anything right now."
Johnson said he hyperextended his knee last season at Jacksonville in Week 12.
"For some reason, it just kind of kept having fluid on it," he said. "We thought it had kind of calmed down, and I was back out doing the offseason workouts just running around and stuff and it just kind of swelled back up, so we felt like that was the best thing to do – get the knee scoped, get it fixed. Right now, I'm feeling fine. The swelling's going down a whole lot... Everything's going to be fine."
A five-time Pro Bowler, Johnson has dealt with injuries in both of the past two seasons. After leading the league in receiving yards in 2008 and 2009, he missed three games with a high-ankle sprain in 2010. He injured his right hamstring last season in Week 4, then injured his left hamstring in his second game back in Week 13.
"I'm not really worried about it," Johnson said of his health. "My hamstrings are fine. That (surgery) was just something that I wanted to do to make sure I don't have to experience that again. The past two seasons have been pretty rough for me just battling with the different injuries. I just don't want to be back in that situation again where I have to miss 7, 8, 9 games. I want to get back to that 1,500-yard Andre. Hopefully, that can happen this year.
"I'm not in any pain now... I'll just keep doing rehab and be ready for training camp."
With Johnson out, second-year wide receiver Lestar Jean is practicing as a starter opposite Kevin Walter.
"Coming off the scope, we're just trying to be smart with (Johnson) and give him plenty of rest," Kubiak said. "He doesn't need those reps, and we're so young at wide receiver, those guys need a lot of practice."
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