A number of key Texans will not play tonight against the Vikings, including wide receiver Andre Johnson and defensive end J.J. Watt.
Watt and fellow starting defensive end Antonio Smith will not play this evening in Minnesota. Neither will fellow defensive starters Johnathan Joseph at cornerback and linebacker Brian Cushing. Linebacker Whitney Mercilus, who has a hamstring injury, won't play tonight either.
On offense, left guard Wade Smith, fullback Greg Jones and tight end Owen Daniels are the starters who won't enter the game either.
Watt was limited at times to non-contact work this week in practice. Wade Smith banged his knee during a practice earlier in the week as well. The others don't typically practice inside the Houston Methodist Training Center on the artificial turf, and tonight's game is played on a Field Turf surface inside the H.H.H. Metrodome.
Additionally, the following will not hit the field for game action either:
WR Alan Bonner
CB Brandon Harris
LB Evan Frierson
DE Delano Johnson
DE Earl Okine
OT Brennan Williams
LB Cameron Collins
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