As expected, Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson, left tackle Duane Brown and cornerback Kareem Jackson all returned to practice from injuries on Monday at the Methodist Training Center.
Johnson, who pulled his groin last Sunday on the second day of training camp, took about 20 reps. Texans coach Gary Kubiak said he did not know if his All-Pro wideout will play on Saturday in the Texans' preseason opener at Carolina.
"I thought he looked good," Kubiak said. "We put a play count on him, so we're going to do that as the week goes on. It's about getting him going again and not expecting him to go the full-bore on the first day out. I thought he held up well, and we'll move forward tomorrow."
Johnson caught a pass from quarterback Matt Schaub on the first play of the team period of practice. He said it was "just like riding a bike" and that he did not feeling anything unusual while running.
"I'm very excited," Johnson said. "You never want to be sitting on the sideline watching your teammates play. You want to be out there working, just like they're working. I'm glad I can be back out here, and I'll keep on working."
Brown, who suffered a bone bruise in his left ankle last Wednesday, took his full allotment of reps at Monday's practice. Jackson, who had been out since last Sunday with a sore left hamstring, took half of his normal reps.
Rookie defensive end Jared Crick did not practice on Monday. The fourth-round draft pick from Nebraska has been out since late last week with a neck issue.
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