CHICAGO -- Texans tight end Owen Daniels will not play against the Chicago Bears on Sunday Night Football.
Daniels, who has a back injury, was declared inactive 90 minutes before kickoff. He did not practice on Wednesday and Thursday and was "very limited" in practice on Friday, according to Texans coach Gary Kubiak.
Third-year tight end Garrett Graham will start in Daniels' absence. Starting fullback James Casey will play more significantly more reps at tight end as well. Graham has 10 catches for 122 yards and a touchdown. Casey has 21 catches for 211 yards and a touchdown.
Daniels is off to the best start of his career, with 37 catches for 478 yards and five touchdowns through eight games. He grew up 30 miles west of Chicago in Naperville, Ill., and said during the week that he was excited about playing at Soldier Field for the first time.
Texans nose tackle Shaun Cody is inactive with a ribs injury. Third-year pro Earl Mitchell will make his first-career start in his place. Running back Ben Tate is inactive with a hamstring injury, leaving Justin Forsett as the backup to Arian Foster for the second consecutive game.
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