The Texans have the best fans in the NFL, and on top of supporting the team, they also give back to the community.

One season ticket holder named Ozzie Ramirez decided, on his own, to tailgate back here in Texas this weekend while the Good Guys played the Colts...AND give back to the community.

Ozzie spearheaded a party/food and toy drive that will take place in Pearland

Click: www.AskOzzie.com/Tailgate for more information and GO TEXANS!!!

The Friday edition of my daily "Tweets from after practice" post. I post Texans updates on Twitter after every practice as soon as the media hears from Texans coach Gary Kubiak. You can follow me on Twitter at twitter.com/NickScurfield.

• Still no starting RB named for Texans. Kubiak said he'll have to watch the film and make a decision probably tomorrow. All 3 RBs will play
• DT Shaun Cody practiced today. Kubiak said he looked good and thinks he'll be ready to go at Indy

And in Colts news from ESPN's Adam Schefter:

• RT @Adam_Schefter: News gets worse for Colts. As reported on ESPN, S Bob Sanders has a torn biceps tendon. He now will be out for the year

Kubiak also said that he's "got a lot of confidence" in running back Steve Slaton.

"We're going to need him to win," Kubiak said.

Updating a look at the Colts' defensive injuries from earlier this week, the team made a few announcements yesterday. Cornerback Marlin Jackson, who hadn't played since Oct. 4, was placed on injured reserve with a left knee injury. Jackson was hoping to return to face the Texans but suffered the injury during a non-contact portion of practice on Wednesday.

Safety Bob Sanders, meanwhile, visited with Dr. James Andrews on Thursday to "gather additional information on the left elbow injury he suffered last Sunday against San Francisco," according to the team. Sanders missed the first five games of the 2009 season with a knee injury but had played in the last two games. The 2007 NFL Defensive Player of the Year had an interception against the 49ers last week.

The Colts also announced that wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez underwent arthroscopic right knee surgery on Thursday. No timetable has been set for his return.

Rotoworld contributor Evan Silva posted his midseason All-Pro team on Monday in a piece for NBCSports.com.

Two Texans made the list: wide receiver Andre Johnson, who leads the league with 697 receiving yards, and rookie linebacker Brian Cushing, who leads all rookies and ranks fifth in the NFL with 66 tackles.

Of Johnson, Silva writes: "The NFL's leading receiver is averaging a career-high 15.8 yards per reception and means more to his team than any wideout in the league. Johnson makes everyone around him better."

And of Cushing: "The lone rookie midseason All-Pro, Cushing has made an immediate impact for a defense that's been one of the league's hardest to run against over the last month. He leads the Texans in tackles and provides a physical presence on the strong side."

Matt Schaub, who leads the league in passing yards is tied for the lead in touchdowns, receives mention along with Drew Brees and Tom Brady as a runner-up to Peyton Manning for All-Pro quarterback honors.

Tight end Joel Dreessen starts this weekend in place of Owen Daniels, and might do so with a stomach full of paper?

Wide receiver David Anderson is one of the best interviews on the squad, and we were lucky enough to huddle with him yesterday in a 1-on-1.

The Colts have a new starting linebacker this weekend.

It's a long read, but Greg Garber of ESPN.com takes a look at whether or not Jacksonville will be able to keep the Jaguars.

Give Tech head coach Mike Leach an Emmy for this performance in last night's Friday Night Lights.

• Kubiak: DT Shaun Cody's back is bothering him. Has missed the last 2 days & got a shot for it today
• Cushing did some work yesterday, not much at all today. Kubiak hopeful that he can resume practicing after the bye
• On Texans RBs, Kubiak reiterated that he's going to "play them all." Starter will be determined later in the week

Kubiak discussed Brian Cushing's maturity level in being able to play so well despite rarely practicing. He also talked about the week that rookie tight end Anthony Hill has been having. Texans owner Bob McNair spoke after practice as well.

Be on the lookout for those things and more that in our practice report on HT.com later this afternoon.

Here's a comparison of the Texans and Colts in this week's NFL power rankings from around the web. Click on the links below to see each site's power ranking.

Pete Prisco of CBS, Clifton Brown of the Sporting News and, of course, John McClain of the Houston Chronicle all have intros with extensive commentary on the Texans.

I'm going to start doing this daily to make sure I don't leave any big news from Texans coach Gary Kubiak out of my blog. Here's a listing of my Tweets from after practice; you can follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/NickScurfield.

• Kubiak: Texans activated Jesse Nading from practice squad to take Daniels' roster spot. Nading will replace Dreessen on special teams
• Dreessen will still snap, though. Texans also signed TE Dezmond Sherrod and LB Marcus Freeman to practice squad
• Of Texans' RBs, Kubiak said he'll "work them all. They know they're all going to play." Moats earned more PT with his big game
• Kubiak also said that backup T Rashad Butler can work as a TE in some various situations

The Texans will go into this game with two tight ends. Kubiak answered several questions about Joel Dreessen, the team's new starting tight end; "we've got a lot of confidence in him," he said.

Kubiak also spent a good while talking about the running backs, in particular Ryan Moats and Steve Slaton. We'll have the details on that and more in our HT.com practice report later this afternoon.

I got asked about injuries to the Colts' defense a couple of times in my live chat today. Hadn't gotten to do much homework on it at that point, which brings me to the topic now.

The Colts' secondary is banged up, and it has been all season. Cornerback Kelvin Hayden suffered a knee injury and concussion against the 49ers, and the Indianapolis Star's Mike Chappell says that his status is uncertain this week. Hayden has started four games this season for the Colts; he also was bothered by a hamstring injury earlier in the season.

Cornerback Marlin Jackson hasn’t played since Oct. 4 because of a knee injury. He started 28 consecutive games for the Colts before being placed on IR with a knee injury last season. According to Chappell, Colts coach Jim Caldwell said Monday that Jackson might return to face the Texans.

With those injuries, it’s possible that two rookies will start at corner for the Colts this week. Jerraud Powers (5-10, 192), a third-round draft pick from Auburn, has started all six games he’s played in this season. He sat out Week 2 while nursing a groin injury.

Jacob Lacey (5-10, 177), an undrafted free agent from Oklahoma State, is listed behind Hayden on the Colts' depth chart. He has played in all seven games, including one start at Tennessee in Week 5. Lacey had a pick-six against the Rams in Week 7.

Safety Bob Sanders, the 2007 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, missed the first five games of the season with a knee injury. He has missed at least 10 games in four of his six NFL seasons. But Sanders was back in the lineup for the last two games and seemed to find his footing against the 49ers, recording an interception and pass defensed.

Outside linebacker Tyjuan Hagler has an elbow issue that forced him out of the 49ers game. His status is uncertain, per the Indy Star's Phil Richards. Hagler has started every game this year and is tied for fifth on the Colts with 26 tackles.

That's a hearty list of injuries, but the Colts still have the seventh-ranked passing defense in the league this season at 180.1 yards allowed per game. And they have the league’s No. 1 scoring defense, giving up just 13.0 points per game.

Defensive ends Dwight Freeney (8.0 sacks, including at least one in each game) and Robert Mathis (6.0 sacks) are wreaking havoc on opposing quarterbacks, and it might not matter if the Colts start two high school corners if the Texans can’t find a way to slow down the devastating pass-rushing tandem.

I'll be doing my weekly live chat today on HoustonTexans.com from 1-2 p.m., and I'd be honored if you joined.

Click here to send in a question ahead of time or to check out the chat once it's in progress. The more, the merrier.

Also, don't forget to vote for linebacker Brian Cushing for NFL Rookie of the Week and running back Ryan Moats for FedEx Ground NFL Player of the Week.

There are two NFL columns that I read, without exception, every Monday: Peter King's Monday Morning Quarterback column for SI.com and John Clayton's Last Call on ESPN.com.

I read them because they're expansive, insightful and written by two of the most respected writers in the business, but also because I want to see what (if anything) they say about the Texans.

They said plenty this week. Here's a Texans-centric recap of both columns today:

King’s MMQB

Fine Fifteen: The Texans are 12th in King’s weekly power rankings. They were 15th last week.

Coach of the Week: Texans defensive coordinator Frank Bush gets the nod. King writes that Bush has added an aggressive tone to the defense and that the “Texans are a wild card threat because of the chip-on-the-shoulder attitude Bush has instilled.”
 
I think this is what I didn't like about Week 8: Owen Daniels suffering a potentially serious knee injury. “He was battling Dallas Clark and Antonio Gates for top tight end in the AFC,” King says.

Clayton’s Last Call

Week 8 observations- Five things I learned: No. 3 is the “big blow for surging Texans” dealt by the loss of Daniels. “Matt Schaub losing Daniels is like Peyton Manning losing Dallas Clark,” Clayton says. “Daniels' ability to stretch the field and move the safety opens up big plays for wide receivers Andre Johnson and Kevin Walter.”

John Clayton's game balls: Texans rookie linebacker Brian Cushing doesn't win Clayton's defensive player game ball, but he receives mention for his 10-tackle, one-sack, one-interception game.

Looking ahead- An early look at next weekend's biggest games: Texans at Colts is first on the list. “Maybe the biggest game in Texans history," writes Clayton.

From the press box - 3:24 p.m. EST
Moats with another touchdown, a one-yarder, to make it 24-10 Texans, with 9:44 left in game.

From the press box - 3:15 p.m. EST
Another lengthy Texans drive--12 plays, 72 yards, 6:13 off the clock--ends in a Kris Brown 26-yd field goal. Texans trail the Bills 10-9 with 7:05 left in 3rd.

From the press box - 2:23 p.m. EST
After one half of play, Buffalo has a 10-6 lead after a Rian Lindell 21-yd field goal. The Bills get the ball to start the second half.

From the press box - 2:14 p.m. EST
At the 2-minute warning, the Texans trail 7-6 after a 22-yd Kris Brown field goal. The drive went 14 plays, 86 yards and took up 8:19 of the game clock.

From the press box - 1:37 p.m. EST
The Bills got an interception after a Schaub pass went in and out of Andre Johnson's hands. On the first play after the pick, Terrell Owens scored on a 29-yard end around. 7-0 Bills, 2:31 left in 1st quarter.

From the press box - 1:31 p.m. EST
After picking up a 1st down, Steve Slaton lost his 5th fumble of the season. But on 3rd down, Brian Cushing with an 8-yd sack and the Bills punted. 1st-and-10 Texans at their own 19, with 3:25 remaining in 1st.

From the press box - 1:25 p.m. EST
Texans' defense forced another 3-and-out, got a fantastic 52-yard punt return by Jacoby Jones, but it was brought back by a holding penalty by Zac Diles. 1st-and-10 Texans at their 47.

From the press box - 1:21 p.m. EST
TE Owen Daniels has a right knee sprain and his return is questionable.

From the press box - 1:15 p.m. EST
On 3rd-and-6 at their own 35, Schaub was incomplete to the right side. Also, Owen Daniels was injured on the play and walked off with a little help from the trainers.

From the press box - 1:11 p.m. EST
After an impressive opening drive, Jairus Byrd intercepted a Matt Schaub pass deep in Buffalo territory. But the Texans' defense forced a punt, and now it's 1st-and-10 Texans at their own 31-yard line, with 9:43 remaining in the first quarter.

From the press box - 11:47 a.m. EST
Here are the inactives and starting lineup changes for today's Texans-Bills game at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Kickoff is at noon CT.

Inactives - Texans:
7 QB Dan Orlovsky (3QB)
17 WR Glenn Martinez
25 S Nick Ferguson
32 CB Fred Bennett
70 G Tutan Reyes
87 TE Anthony Hill
96 DE Tim Jamison
97 DT Frank Okam

Starting lineup changes - Texans:
Glover Quin will start at left cornerback for Jacques Reeves.

Inactives – Bills:
5 QB Trent Edwards
11 WR Roscoe Parrish (3QB)
20 S Donte Whinter
38 FB Corey McIntyre
43 S Bryan Scott
89 TE Shawn Nelson
95 DT Kyle Williams

Starting lineup changes - Bills:
Jamon Meredith will start at right tackle for Jonathan Scott. Ryan Fitzpatrick will start at quarterback for Edwards. Spencer Johnson will start at right defensive tackle for Wililiams. George Wilson will start at strong safety for Scott. Jairus Byrd will start at free safety for Whitner.

From the press box - 11:40 a.m. EST
Kickoff gets closer. We took a few pictures on the field moments ago. Click here to see them.

From the press box - 9:57 a.m. EST
The Texans arrived at Ralph Wilson Stadium about an hour ago. It's a beautiful day for football. Nice and crisp, partly cloudy skies, and a slight breeze.

As requested from Sam in Arlington during my weekly live chat this Tuesday, here are the officials for today's Texans-Bills game:

Referee: Gene Steratore (114); umpire: Tony Michalek (115); head linesman: Jerry Bergman (91); line judge: Jeff Seeman (45); field judge: Greg Gautreaux (80); side judge: Mike Weatherford (116); back judge: Bob Waggoner (25); instant replay assistant: Paul Weidner; instant replay video assistant: Mike Wimmer; officiating observer: Art McNally

For the second time this season, the Texans have signed rookie defensive end Tim Jamison to the 53-man roster from the practice squad. Jamison first was called up from the practice squad on Oct. 6. He played in two games, was waived on Oct. 20 and was re-signed to the practice squad two days later.

To make room for Jamison, the Texans released linebacker Jamie Winborn. A ninth-year veteran, Winborn signed with the Texans last week but did not play against the 49ers.