Houston
Texans

Texans Team Report

Updated: May 25, 2012 04:21 EST

The Texans completed their first week of OTAs, three overall, with two of their most important players watching from the sideline.

Quarterback Matt Schaub, who is still recovering from surgery to repair the Lisfranc joint in his right foot, was supposed to miss the OTAs. The goal has been to have him 100 percent for the start of training camp, and Schaub is on schedule.

But Schaub's favorite receiver, Andre Johnson, reported to the OTAs two weeks after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. Johnson said he suffered a hyperextended knee last season, but everything was fine until he started working out hard, and it began to swell.

"Andre's coming off the scope, and we're just trying to be smart with him and give him plenty of rest," coach Gary Kubiak said. "He doesn't need those reps. We're just so young at wide receiver. Those guys need a lot of practice.

"Matt, to be honest with you, could probably do individuals, could do 7-on-7, but we're just being smart with him. When you haven't passed a physical, you're not going to step on the field."

Johnson, who turns 31 in July, missed nine games last season with a hamstring injury in each leg. He was limited to 33 catches for 492 yards and two touchdowns.

In 2010, Johnson missed the last three games because of a knee injury and finished with 86 receptions for 1,216 yards and eight touchdowns. The last time he played a full season was 2009 when he had 101 catches for 1,569 yards and nine touchdowns.

"The past two years have been pretty rough for me, battling with the injuries and stuff, so right now everything is just focusing on making sure everything is right before I get back out here," Johnson said. "I've been doing rehab pretty much ever since the season's been over. I went back home to Miami and was still doing rehab down there, so my biggest thing is to make sure everything is well and fine from the injuries I've battled with over the past two seasons.

"Right now, I'm feeling fine, the swelling's gone down a whole lot, so I'm just rehabbing. Everything's going to be fine. There's no need to panic."

Johnson is confident he'll be 100 percent by the start of training camp. If he's not, Kubiak will continue to take it easy on him. The Texans don't really need Johnson until regular season.

"There's no doubt in my mind about that," Johnson said about being ready for the start of camp. "I feel like maybe in three or four more weeks, I'll probably be ready to go, so it's just a process, and I'm not having any other issues from the other injuries I had with my hamstrings."

--Texans punter Brett Hartmann is facing a three-game suspension to start the regular season, which will make it difficult to beat out Donnie Jones. The suspension was lowered from four to three games, and Hartmann told Fox 26 in Houston he was suspended for taking Ritalin.

"I took something that was under the performance enhancing banned substance list," Hartmann said. "It was something for a medical condition that I didn't have approval for from the NFL and now I currently have approval for it, so I can take it.

"It was just for ADD medicine, but now I have approval to take it from our doctors and the NFL doctors. I just made a mistake. Should have got that approved before. Just got to move on. Serve the three-game suspension."

--With quarterback Matt Schaub on the sideline, T.J. Yates, who led the Texans to a playoff victory last season, is working with the first team. Yates started the last seven games of his rookie season, including two in the playoffs.

Veteran John Beck, a former second-round pick signed two weeks ago after being waived by Washington, Case Keenum, an undrafted rookie free agent, are rotating with the second and third teams.

Keenum, who set many NCAA passing records at the University of Houston, is the local hero who's a fan favorite.

--Lestar Jean, an undrafted rookie free agent last season, spent his rookie year on injured reserve. He had impressed his coaches and teammates during camp and preseason. He's replaced Andre Johnson as the starter opposite Kevin Walter during OTAs.

The Texans lack experience at backup receiver. Jean has one camp of experience, but that's more than two draft choices -- DeVier Posey and Keshawn Martin -- and two undrafted free agents -- Dwight Jones and Jerrell Jackson.

"They all have talent," said Johnson, who has been watching the receivers closely. "They've been given a great opportunity, and if you look at the group we've had out there, there's only one guy (Walter) that's played in a game on Sunday.

"We have a lot of young guys and they all have a lot of talent, so I think they all will be given a great chance. The coaches will decide who the best guys are. All are capable of helping the team."

--Wide receiver DeVier Posey, a third-round draft choice, is expected to make the biggest impact of the new receivers, despite missing 10 games at Ohio State last season because of suspensions.

"I can tell he's making progress," coach Gary Kubiak said. "My initial reaction was very good. I think the more information we gave him toward the end of the week, obviously, they bog down a little bit. He's got a lot of ability. He just needs the reps."

--Outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus, the first-round draft choice, is learning to play standing up after playing in a three-point stance at end at the University of Illinois. He'll probably drop to right end in passing situations.

"I see the transition as just a matter of working each day, taking it slow and learning the system," he said. "It's awesome because they have high expectations, but there are high expectations on my part, too. I have to show them that making me their first pick was the best decision.

"I feel like I work well under pressure. It's just taking my job seriously every day. I'll go through the season and see where I land."

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I feel great. I'm champing at the bit to get back in the huddle, but it's May, and the trainers and coaches want to be smart with things. I'd love to be out there. I feel like I could do everything. We just want to take it one day at a time." -- QB Matt Schaub on being kept out of OTAs while he continues to rehab his right foot.

MEDICAL WATCH: No updates.

FRANCHISE PLAYER: None.

TRANSITION PLAYER: None.

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

--SS Dominique Barber can back up at both safety positions, but he has a problem staying healthy. He was on injured reserve last season and may not be brought back.

--DE Tim Bulman is a workout warrior who players and coaches love. He plays hard, never complains and always does a solid job. They'd like to have him back at the minimum.

--QB Jake Delhomme provided experience and leadership for rookie T.J. Yates, but he won't be back. He retired again to his ranch in Louisiana.

--QB Jeff Garcia played the same role as Jake Delhomme. He helped develop T.J. Yates. He won't be brought back.

--WR Bryant Johnson was signed in preseason to provide depth. He had only six catches and one touchdown and won't be brought back.

--OG Kasey Studdard is a former starter who spent the season on injured reserve. He'll have to accept the minimum if he wants to return.

--P Matt Turk signed during the season when rookie Brett Hartmann suffered a season-ending knee injury. Turk averaged 42.7 yards when pressed into emergency duty but isn't expected to be back unless they lose Hartmann or another punter again.

--RB Derrick Ward is a tremendous leader in the dressing room who has been invaluable in the development of Arian Foster and Ben Tate. The coaches would love to have him back, but it will have to be near the minimum.

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.

EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS: None.

DRAFT CHOICES SIGNED

--C Ben Jones (4/99): $2.581M/4 yrs, $481,448 SB.

--WR Keshawn Martin (4/121): $2.512M/4 yrs, $412,560 SB.

--DE Jared Crick (4/126): $2.491M/4 yrs, $391,500 SB.

--K Randy Bullock (5/161): $2.278M/4 yrs, $178,108 SB.

--T Nick Mondek (6/195): $2.197M/4 yrs, $97,432 SB.

PLAYERS RE-SIGNED

--S Quintin Demps: Not tendered as RFA; $700,000/1 yr.

--LB Tim Dobbins: UFA; $700,000/1 yr.

--RB Arian Foster: Potential RFA; $43.5M/5 yrs, $12.5M SB/$10.25M base guarantees '12-'13.

--C Chris Myers: UFA; $25M/4 yrs, $8M SB/$14M guaranteed.

--LS Jon Weeks: Potential ERFA; $2.9M/4 years, $255,000 guaranteed.

PLAYERS ACQUIRED

--QB John Beck: FA Redskins, terms unknown.

--K Shayne Graham: FA; terms unknown.

--LB Bradie James: UFA Cowboys; $890,000/1 yr, $65,000 SB.

--P Donnie Jones: UFA Rams; $890,000/1 yr, $65,000 SB.

PLAYERS LOST

--CB Jason Allen: UFA Bengals $8.2M/2 yrs.

--OG Mike Brisiel: UFA Raiders; $20M/5 yrs.

--TE Joel Dreessen: UFA Broncos; $8.5M/3 yrs.

--QB Matt Leinart (released/failed physical).

--PK Neil Rackers: UFA Redskins; 1 yr, terms unknown.

--LB DeMeco Ryans (traded Eagles).

--FB Lawrence Vickers (released).

--LB Mario Williams: UFA Bills: $96M/6 yrs, $19M SB/$5.9M base guarantee 2012/$8M OB 2013/$6M base guaranteed injury 2013, becomes fully guaranteed second day of league year/$10.6M RB 2014 guaranteed injury/$24.9M guaranteed.

--OT Eric Winston (released/failed physical, ankle).