National Football League

Texans to know Reed's status soon

Published Aug. 26, 2013 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

The Houston Texans expect by the end of this week to have a better idea whether injured safety Ed Reed will play in their season opener.

Coach Gary Kubiak said Monday that Reed is in Vail, Colo., visiting the surgeon who performed his April hip surgery to repair a partially-torn labrum. He will receive injections in his hip during the visit and then travel Atlanta later this week to continue his rehabilitation.

The Texans wrap up their preseason on Thursday night at Dallas and open the season Sept. 9 at San Diego.

''I think we're going to have a really good idea of where we're at coming out of Dallas,'' Kubiak said of Reed's status.

It is the second hip surgery for the 34-year-old Reed, who also had a procedure in 2010 that caused him to miss the first six games of that season.

The nine-time Pro Bowler, who joined the Texans in the offseason after spending his entire career with the Ravens, has been on the physically unable to perform list since the start of camp. But he has said that his rehab is going well and that he believes he's ahead of schedule.

Kubiak stressed that they have been part of all the decisions and plans as he recovers, even though he's spent a lot of time away from the team working with the people in Atlanta who helped him come back from his last procedure. They aren't concerned that his recovery will bleed too far into the season even if he isn't ready for the first week.

''I think we feel good about understanding where he's at and I think the question is if he's going to be ready right off the get-go,'' Kubiak said. ''That's something that's got to get sorted out here pretty quickly.''

Kubiak said he had a long conversation with Reed on Sunday before he left for Colorado and that he assured him he's steadily improving.

With Reed out, the Texans have had a chance to give rookie second-round pick D.J. Swearinger extra work, and have been impressed with his development. He could play a big role if Reed isn't ready to play in the opener.

The added playing time Swearinger and Houston's other young safeties have gotten in camp and preseason games has Kubiak confident that the secondary will be fine even if Reed can't play early.

''You've got to understand our approach, our whole training camp our approach has been without him so the team's not going to panic,'' Kubiak said. ''We understand.''

NOTES: Kubiak said Monday that QB Case Keenum will start Thursday's game and T.J. Yates will play the second half. He's still trying to decide which player will back up Matt Schaub this season. Yates has had the role for the past two seasons, but a good camp by Keenum has him challenging for the role. ''I probably feel as good as I've felt after my starter probably in a long, long time,'' Kubiak said. ''It's a nice problem to have.''... TE Garrett Graham has a hip pointer, but should be OK.