Ogbonnaya bonding with Foster at Texans camp

HOUSTON (AP)

Chris Ogbonnaya has bonded with Houston Texans star running back Arian Foster, and it's only fitting.

The 25-year-old Ogbonnaya is in the same spot Foster was in two training camps ago.

An undrafted free agent, Foster was fighting to stay on the roster and not only made it, but went from the practice squad in 2009 to the NFL's rushing title in 2010.

Ogbonnaya spent last season on Houston's practice squad and tried to soak up everything Foster told him.

''His path that he's taken has garnered a lot of respect for him, not just from me, but from everyone around this league,'' Ogbonnaya said. ''He's a great player. What he's been through last year, coming off the sideline, it was easy to listen to him.''

With Foster watching on Monday night, Ogbonnaya made a big impression against the New York Jets, scoring twice and producing 104 total yards.

The former Texas star was the last running back standing after Derrick Ward left in the first quarter with a concussion. Foster, Steve Slaton and Ben Tate were already sidelined with hamstring injuries.

''I'm proud of him,'' Foster said of Ogbonnaya. ''He's the one constant, the one guy who's stayed healthy through this whole training camp. He works hard, man. All I can do is wish the best for that guy.''

Ogbonnaya is also spurred by the success of Terrell Davis, a sixth-round draft pick who was a three-time All-Pro for Denver when Texans coach Gary Kubiak was the Broncos' offensive coordinator. Davis started his first training camp as the sixth-string running back and worked his way into the starting job by the time the season began.

''His career just took off,'' Ogbonnaya said. ''For me, everybody's story is different. I just hope that at some point, I can make a mark on this team.''

The 6-foot, 225-pound Ogbonnaya was a seventh-round draft pick by St. Louis in 2009, then was cut last September. The Texans signed him within days, and Ogbonnaya worked quietly all season on the practice squad.

After the season, Kubiak told Ogbonnaya to stay fit and mentally focused because, as it did with Foster, an opportunity could emerge at any time.

Ogbonnaya worked out with teammates in Houston over the summer, but knew coming into camp that the numbers were stacked against him.

Foster, who returned to practice on Wednesday, is the starter and Ward the likely backup. Slaton and Tate are vying for the third-string spot and although both missed team drills again on Wednesday, Ogbonnaya knows they'll take away some of his carries when they get healthy.

For now, Ogbonnaya is only focusing on what he can control.

''This is a time for me to make the most of my opportunity,'' he said, ''to make a mark on this team and try to earn some respect, if not here, then around the league. It's a crazy business. I just hope I can make it stick here.''

Ogbonnaya has had to wait his turn before. At Texas, he backed up Jamaal Charles and Selvin Young in his first two seasons, then shared carries with Vondrell McGee and Cody Johnson in 2008.

But that doesn't mean he was forgotten. After Monday night's game, Ogbonnaya got a text message from Longhorns' coach Mack Brown.

''He was just telling me just to keep working, that he was proud,'' Ogbonnaya said. ''But just to keep pushing.''

Kubiak said the projected starters will get more snaps in Saturday's game against New Orleans than they did against the Jets. But with Ward, Slaton and Tate still sidelined, that could mean another heavy day for Ogbonnaya.

And he can hardly wait.

''Same mindset,'' he said. ''Every day out here is a day to grow, a day to get better. You've got to come prepared to do the same thing every day, and try to get better.''

Foster, meanwhile, said his hamstring feels ''100 percent,'' although he'll also be careful not to re-aggravate it.

''Hamstrings are a part of a runner's life,'' he said. ''You can't really ever know when it's healed, unless you just feel it. It's kind of a feeling that you know. Right now, there's just no reason to push it, go all out and try to win a marathon race or a sprint. We're just going to take it day by day.''

Slaton and Tate worked with a trainer on a separate field from the team Wednesday. Kubiak is still concerned that Tate, who missed last season with a broken ankle, isn't getting enough carries to be ready for the Sept. 11 season opener against the Colts.

''He's missed a lot of time as a pro football player and we're waiting to get him out here,'' Kubiak said. ''I'm hoping like heck he's on this field (Thursday) morning. We'll see, but it looked like he took a big step forward and needs to get out here and compete.''