The Houston Texans are starting to get concerned about their run game. The team quickly signed three backs off of the free agent market as both Ben Tate and Arian Foster continue to struggle through injuries. With an emergency plan in place, head coach Gary Kubiak notes that both backs are game-time decisions at this point.
Foster has yet to practice this week. He was spotted running on the sidelines with trainers watching over him, but the running back is still struggling with hamstring issues that have kept his productivity very low. The running is the most activity Foster has seen all week, but if that is all he is able to do then it is likely the running back will not play on Sunday night against the Indianapolis Colts.
"Arian went out and stretched, did some stuff and did some walkthrough. And then he worked with the trainers," Kubiak said, via the team website. "I think he's going to do everything he can to be there. But I think it'll be an end of the week decision, so we'll see. He did do some things, just not with the team once we got going."
There is more hope that Tate will see the field Sunday over Foster. The back noted that he broke three ribs while filling in for the starter, but fully expects to play come Sunday. Kubiak remained more positive on the outlook regarding Tate. The head coach says that it really depends on how sore the running back is come Friday.
"I think it's still going to be end of the week. We'll see how he comes out [Thursday], how sore is he," Kubiak said.
Texans fans understand that having both running backs out could seriously kill their offense. As of now, Case Keenum has been named the Sunday starter over a healthy Matt Schaub. The veteran quarterback told media that he was thrilled over the decision to start Keenum over him, but he will remain focused on getting healthy and improving. Kubiak originally said that Schaub had torn ligaments in his ankle but noted that the decision to start Keenum was not based on health.
"Yeah, it's obviously very disappointing for me after all we've been through here and all we've accomplished and done," Schaub said. "But I'm part of the reason we're in this situation as a football team. It's his decision. He's the head coach. As a player and a competitor, I don't like it. I want to be out there."
