Arian Foster Out for Texans’ Opening Game Against Colts

Added on Sep 11, 2011 by Jack Thurman in

NFL

The Houston Texans had remained hopeful about Arian Foster’s balky hamstring all throughout the preseason but it was to no avail–the star running back is ‘inactive’ for the team’s opening day game against the Indianapolis Colts. The official word came earlier today after his injury status had changed several times during the past few weeks.

For his part, Foster had said that he felt no pressure to rush back into the lineup. He injured his hamstring early in the Texans’ training camp and aggravated the injury in a August 27 victory over the San Francisco 49ers. Since then he’s been practicing on a limited basis but didn’t participate in any of the team’s games or scrimmages. Derek Ward is the #2 running back on the Houston depth chart and will almost certainly start in Foster’s place.

Gary Kubiak had sounded a positive tone about Foster’s injury during training camp, but ultimately conceeded that until he’s back at 100% its a concern:

“Looks like we’re dealing with the same thing we were dealing with at the start of camp. Hopefully, we can get him back on the rehab train, and get him ready for opening day. He’ll be day to day.”

“Until he hops back out there, there’s a concern. But it sounds like we’re heading in the right direction.”

Houston will rely on a dramatically improved defense under their new Defensive Coordinator (and former Dallas Cowboys’ head coach) Wade Phillips. Kubiak has been quick to give Phillips credit, but is also impressed with the improved energy from the entire unit:

“It’s not like it’s one guy having a great preseason. It’s collectively, as a group, all making plays, just bouncing around.”

The NFL betting line on the game had shot up dramatically after the announcement that Colts’ quarterback Peyton Manning would not play. It had opened with the Texans a -1 point home favorite but will close with Houston priced as high as -9 or -9.5. Interestingly, the announcement that Foster was out had no impact on the price whatsoever. This could be that the betting public already knew that he was possible to miss, or it could be that they’re fixated on the absence of the much higher profile player in Manning.