Texans running back Arian Foster was a full participant in practice on Wednesday. The league-leading rusher said that he'll be ready to play this weekend at Denver.
"I'm good, 100 percent," Foster said.
Foster sat out most of the fourth quarter of Sunday's loss at Tennessee with a sore ankle. He also was bothered by glute spasms in the week leading up to the game.
"He's fine," Texans coach Gary Kubiak said. "He practiced good today. No problems, no issues with him today."
Health checkWide receiver Andre Johnson (ankle), linebacker Brian Cushing (knee/ankle/foot), kicker Neil Rackers (right hamstring) and tight end Garrett Graham (hamstring) did not practice on Wednesday.
"I think Andre's (injury) is (a) game-time (decision)," Kubiak said. "We'll do our normal deal this week and see where he is at. Cushing, it may be Friday before he's out here. His foot is sore. Neil, just being smart with his hamstring. Hopefully they'll all be there when it's time to go."
Pro Bowl-bound?
Foster, Johnson and fullback Vonta Leach won the Pro Bowl fan voting at their respective positions in the AFC, the NFL announced on Wednesday.
Leach needed a late surge to pass San Diego's Mike Tolbert and Baltimore's LeRon McClain for the lead at fullback. Johnson and Foster campaigned for him on Twitter and by wearing "Send Leach to the Beach" T-shirts.
"I thank the fans, my teammates, the Texans fans that went out and voted for me and people that saw me on TV," Leach said. "We had a couple of national television games, so people got to see me and see what I do. So I think that helped a lot, but obviously when you've got a Pro Bowl player like Andre Johnson, Arian Foster, when they tell people to go out and vote on their Twitter and stuff, that helps you out also."
The Pro Bowl teams will be announced next Tuesday. Fan voting is one-third of the selection process, with the other two-thirds determined by coach and player votes.
Status quo at QBKubiak said that quarterbacks Dan Orlovsky and Matt Leinart will not see any more playing time, even though the Texans are out of playoff contention and Matt Schaub has been banged up in recent weeks.
"Like I said, Matt's (Schaub) our quarterback, and he's the best guy to be on the field for us," Kubiak said. "These games are just as important to me as the last 14 we've played, so, Matt's ready to go (and) he'll play. He practiced today. He's OK."
Schaub, who was sacked four times against the Titans, was listed with a right elbow injury on Wednesday. Orlovsky and Leinart are splitting reps behind him, and Kubiak said Orlovsky remains at No. 2 on the depth chart.
Denver returnKubiak spent 20 years with the Broncos as a player (1983-91) and coach (1995-2005), but he wasn't long on nostalgia on Wednesday when asked for his thoughts about returning to Denver this weekend.
"I don't have a lot," Kubiak said. "My thoughts are right here with this football team and what's going on. Obviously, I spent a great deal of time there; a lot of friends and guys that I competed with for a long, long time. Boy, I'm worried about this group and getting ready to play this week. We've got to play a lot better than we did."
