Texans vs. Ravens: Andre Johnson is ‘ready to go’
Sep 9, 2013; San Diego, CA, USA; Houston Texans receiver Andre Johnson (80) leaps over San Diego Chargers cornerback Richard Marshall (31) on a 27-yard reception in the second quarter at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
There was some really good news coming out of Houston Friday afternoon, and that was when Houston Texans head coach Gary Kubiak said that No. 1 wide receiver Andre Johnson is “ready to go.”
“I think he’s fine. He’s ready to go,” Kubiak said to the Houston media. “I think Ed (Reed) and Duane (Brown) are our game time decisions.”
Johnson also spoke with the media on Friday.
“I never lost consciousness at all,” Johnson explained about the hit on him last Sunday. “The only thing was that my head, when I hit the ground, my head slammed against the turf and everything was blurry. I had a headache, a real bad headache at the time.
“I was aware of everything that had happened. I told them exactly what happened when I got to the sideline. I knew exactly who hit me and whatnot.”
Even following the hit, Johnson wanted to return to the game last Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.
“I wanted to come back, but all of the head things that are going on in the game now, they were going to be very cautious about that,” Johnson said. “They felt like it was best for me not to come back in and I thought I was coming back in.
“That’s why I took off sprinting into the locker room, so I could hurry up and get what I needed to get done so I could get back. When they told me to take my cleats off, I knew I wasn’t coming back.”
Speaking of Brown, if he’s unable to go, that will be a big blow the of Texans’ offensive line. Brown didn’t practice Friday.
“(Duane) will be a game-time decision as I’ve said,” Kubiak said. “He is doing better. I feel the same way I’ve felt every day (about Brown playing, but not practicing). I know what he can do, if he can get there for us on Sunday, but we’ll see.”
Taking the spot of Brown if he’s unable to play is Ryan Harris, who Kubiak said he’s confident in.
“I have a lot of confidence in Ryan because he played a lot for us last year and he’s played a lot of football in this league,” Kubiak said. “He’s got a big challenge on his hands, regardless of who plays for us this week, we’ve got a challenge. They’re a very good defensive football team. I’m comfortable with Ryan. That’s why he’s here.”
The other big question mark is if Reed will suit up and play for the first time this season, especially with the Texans traveling to Baltimore to face the Ravens, Reed’s former team. He won a Super Bowl with the Ravens last season.
“The biggest thing as I keep (saying) is it is how he comes out of practices,” Kubiak said. “Is he sore? Stuff like that. He came out of (Thursday) really good. We’ll see how we did (Friday).
“We were able to practice outside even though the weather was bad, we were able to stay off the turf and stay outside, so that was a good thing.”
Back to Johnson, Kubiak said it was a relief to have Johnson back on the field this week after he suffered a concussion agains the Titans.
“It is, but at the same time, after the game I felt that way,” Kubiak said of being a relief Johnson is back quickly. “I think we all felt that way because sometimes those things happen to guys out there on the field and you leave the stadium that day concerned, real concerned.
“Andre did bounce back from what took place, once we were in the locker room after the game. Actually, he met me coming up the tunnel after the game. You felt good about him bouncing back this week. It’s my understanding that he’s totally cleared.”
For more quotes from Kubiak and Johnson click here.