Andre Johnson Expected To Return From Injury In Week 17

Regardless of the outcome of the Titans game, the Texans are locked in as the No. 3 seed in the AFC Playoffs.

For more insight and analysis of Johnson’s injury, be sure to check out Texans blog Battle Red Blog.

Head coach Gary Kubiak said what he’s been saying for the last few weeks -- Johnson is getting closer but he’s not quite there yet.

This has been Johnson’s most disappointing season since he’s been in the league. He missed Week 5-10 due to a hamstring injury and he returned for a couple of weeks before tweaking the other hamstring. He’s played in just six games this year.

Johnson missed six games in the middle of the season with a hamstring injury and shortly after he returned he tweaked the other hamstring. He hasn’t played since Week 12.

Despite Johnson’s injury, the Texans are flourishing as they stand at 10-3 on the year and have already wrapped up their first playoff berth. And because the AFC South is already clinched there’s a thinking that the Texans may rest Johnson until the playoffs. It’s been reported he wants to return at some point in the regular season so it’s possible we see him in Week 17.

When healthy, Johnson has been among the best wide receivers in the NFL this season, averaging 78.5 receiving yards per game. The problem is that he’s only played in six games, limiting him to just 31 catches, 471 yards and just two touchdowns.

Johnson has now hurt both of his hamstrings this season, which suggests the team could be even more cautious than normal with his recovery. Despite dealing with numerous injuries, the Texans have already clinched the AFC South and are currently tied for the best record in the AFC.

Johnson missed six weeks earlier this season for an injury to his (other) hamstring. He returned in Week 12 and injured the other hamstring in Week 13 against the Falcons. This is by far the most disappointing year of his career playing in just six games.

The Titans owner indicated shortly after the injury last week that Johnson could miss a couple of weeks.

These comments come a couple days after Texans owner Bob McNair stated that he hoped Johnson could be back in a couple weeks. McNair was speaking right after the game, so it remains to be seen how much new information there was at that point.

For now, this is a situation to monitor as injury reports are released Thursday and Friday. If Johnson is unable to go, Jacoby Jones would move back into the starting lineup opposite Kevin Walter. It remains to be seen how much action any of the receivers will see given the QB situation in Houston.

He had his head in his hands as he left the field before being taken back to the locker room by the Texans’ training staff.

If Yates is going to win his first career NFL start, it appears he’ll have to do it without his main weapon in the passing game.