texasguy346
Mod Squad
Was reading a report about Walker, and found out that Seth Payne won't make the trip to Denver with the team. Capers thinks he'll play Sept 2nd against Tampa Bay.
ESPNACHES AND PAYNES: Six active Houston Texans players will not travel to Denver for the game Friday night against the Broncos, with injuries old and new keeping them home to train.
Most notable among the homebound Texans was nose tackle Seth Payne, who has been practicing for two weeks and was hoping to get his first game action since last September, when he tore a ligament in his left knee at New Orleans.
While agreeing Payne could play if it were a regular season game, coach Dom Capers said Wednesday he felt more comfortable sitting him out and playing him Sept. 2 against Tampa Bay.
"The most important thing is this will give him a good chance to get two days of work while we're gone, and he'll get the specified amount of (playing) time next week," Capers said of Payne, who has endured three knee operations in the past 12 months.
Staying home with Payne this week be another player recovering from knee surgery from last fall, rookie safety Glenn Earl.
The other four are resting with fresh injuries: DE Gary Walker (groin), ILB Marcus Bell (shoulder), CB/KR Vontez Duff (shoulder) and Jonathan Wells (knee).
Texans getting their first exhibition playing time this summer at Denver will be RB Domanick Davis (ankle) and DL Junior Ioane (knee).
Three other players are on the physically unable to perform list and aren't eligible to play in preseason: S Ramon Walker (knee), TE Bennie Joppru (groin) and rookie QB B.J. Symons (knee).
BUS STOP: Like just about all of his teammates, Texans rookie cornerback Dunta Robinson had a tough night last weekend in Pittsburgh, where the Steelers rolled Houston 38-3.
He did earn one badge of honor, though. The 174-pound defensive back had to take on 255-pound running back Jerome Bettis three times, downing him in each instance.
"I made sure I kept up with that stat," said Robinson, drafted No. 10 overall more for his ability to shut down receivers than take down bruising rushers like "The Bus."
It wasn't without cost. Robinson had a stiff shoulder earlier this week.
"It was like running into a brick wall at full speed," Robinson said of the experience. "I saw two of him when I got up. It's rough, but that's the game."
REPEAT MEETING: For the third straight year, the Texans will play a regular season opponent in the preseason.
Asked about it Wednesday, coach Dom Capers said it would bother him more if the regular season rematch occurred in the first month of the season. In each case -- the New York Giants in 2002, Tampa Bay last year and Denver this season -- the game that counted came in November or December.
"I don't think it's much of a concern," Capers said. "Both teams are getting to know each other's personnel but beyond that -- X's and O's wise -- there's not too much to it."
For the record, the Texans have a 1-1 regular season record in such games, having beaten the Giants 16-14 in 2002 after losing to them in the Hall of Fame game that summer.
EXTRA POINTS: RB Tony Hollings is feeling better after hurting his ribs at Pittsburgh last weekend. "We've kept him out of contact all week, but he's gotten better every day," coach Dom Capers said. With starting RB Domanick Davis set to play only two or three series, Hollings can expect plenty of work Friday at Denver. ... TE Matt Murphy, who has a chance to make the final roster because of Bennie Joppru's groin injury, made a spectacular one-handed catch in the end zone during Wednesday's practice session. ... SS Eric Brown, who spent four seasons with the Broncos, said the mile-high altitude can be a "difference-maker" for teams not used to it. "Hopefully I still have a little bit of that Colorado air in me to last," he said.