As expected, Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson and defensive coordinator Wade Phillips were back to work on Monday.
Johnson, who has missed the last three games with a hamstring injury, participated in practice inside the Methodist Training Center. Texans coach Gary Kubiak said he will have to watch Johnson practice this week before deciding if his All-Pro receiver can play on Sunday in the regular-season finale against the Tennessee Titans.
"I'm just worried about getting him back ready to play for a couple weeks from now," Kubiak said. "I think that's why he needs to come back and play this week, just to get on the field and get some reps. But I'll have to watch what's going on because we definitely want him two weeks from now."
Kubiak said Phillips was at work for a couple of hours. He met with players and went over game tape of the Texans' Week 16 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. Phillips had been on a medical leave of absence for 10 days after having surgery on his kidney and gallbladder.
"The goal would be that he would be (coaching) in the press box on Sunday, but we'll see how he feels," Kubiak said. " It was good for everybody just to know that he's doing better and on his way back to his full health. He looked good. I know it was good for him to get out and be around the players for a little bit."
The Texans are locked in to the third seed in the AFC for the playoffs no matter what happens on Sunday, but Kubiak said that won't change how they prepare for their game. The Texans are on a two-game losing streak and would like to gain some positive momentum heading into the postseason.
"We just need to keep going," he said. "We've got to find a way to fix some of our problems and play better than we've been playing. We're going to approach this game just like any other game.
"Every time you step on the field, it's important, and this week's no different."
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