QB Matt Schaub (8) and RB Steve Slaton (20) hope for big things on Sunday against the Colts.
The Texans practiced outside Wednesday morning at the Methodist Training Center in preparation for their Sunday contest against the Colts.
Health status: Head coach Gary Kubiak was asked a handful of questions about the health status of his players. Free safety Eugene Wilson is out for the season with toe injuries (read more about Wilson by clicking **here**).
A few other players were held out of Wednesday's drills because of injury, including middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans, who injured an ankle against the Titans.
"We'll try to get something out of him tomorrow, maybe," Kubiak said. "It may be all the way until Friday before he practices. He has a pretty sore ankle."
Kubiak also said running back Steve Slaton didn't practice because of a "shoulder issue." The second-year ball carrier did some running and other rehab activities.
Safety Dominique Barber (ankle) practiced, as did wide receiver Jacoby Jones (calf).
Familiar foes…fine: Kubiak said playing the Colts twice within a three-game span is not altogether a bad thing.
"It makes it a little bit easier to adjust," Kubiak said. "That's just part of this game. It changes every week, but with this short turnaround coming off a Monday night, playing a team we're very familiar with obviously will help us get ready to play."
{QUOTE}Quarterback Matt Schaub echoed those sentiments as well.
"I think so, especially on a short week," Schaub said when asked whether playing the Colts twice in four weeks is helpful. "Playing Monday night and then turning around and playing five days later, I think it helps that they're a divisional opponent that we know well."
Wide receiver Andre Johson, however, wasn't so sure.
"I don't know, I think you still have to go out and play the game," Johnson said. "I don't really think it matters how close the games are. It's going to be a big test for us. We played them close the last few times we played them, and hopefully Sunday, we can get over that hump and get a win."
Run game: Slaton missed practice because of a shoulder injury, but afterward said he'll be ready for Sunday's game against the Colts. Slaton has now played two consecutive games without fumbling.
"(I'm) just being positive and worrying about taking care of the ball," Slaton said. "The past two games, I've done a pretty good job, so hopefully it can just give me confidence to go out there and keep it going."
Chris Brown, meanwhile, carried the ball 11 times on Monday night against the Titans after being used sparingly to start the season. He says the lack of previous playing time didn't affect his performance.
"I'm always prepared, every week," Brown said. "So it's no different. I just go out there and make sure I'm ready."
