Few people could recover from a lung contusion quickly enough to play in another NFL game only seven days later. But it appears as though Pro Bowler Andre Johnson will do just that.
Coach Gary Kubiak announced Friday that Johnson is likely to play against the Buffalo Bills after he practiced for the second consecutive day.
"Andre looked great," Kubiak said. "He's ready to go. If there are no setbacks between now and game day, he'll be ready to go."
Asked how it felt to get his coach's approval, Johnson didn't seem surprised considering he's felt fine all week.
"My answer hasn't changed," Johnson said. "I'm ready just like any other game."
Johnson, the NFL's leader with 634 receiving yards, will wear an extra pad on Sunday to protect his upper body. He practiced with the pad on Friday during a period of practice.
"It felt a little different because I haven't worn it for a while," he said. "I don't think it's really a big deal. I don't think it will restrict me from doing anything.
"I was just debating on how tight to have it around my waist and things like that. Other than that, as far as me moving, jumping or anything like that, it doesn't restrict me."
Johnson was held out of practice on Wednesday and was listed as "limited" on Thursday's injury report. All week long, though, Johnson said he felt no pain after leaving the game against San Francisco in the fourth quarter when he began coughing up blood.
"It feels good," Johnson said Thursday. "Like I said, I wasn't in any pain or anything like that, so that's what made me feel that I would be out there on Sunday. I'm still not in any pain. I feel good. I feel fine. My breathing is fine when I'm out there running. I'm just ready to go get this scan and see if they see stuff. I'm excited about it and hopefully there's nothing bad when they look at the scan."
With his playing status confirmed and his injury an afterthought, Johnson is putting all his focus toward beating the Bills and extending the Texans' record to 5-3.
"When you're winning, the attitude of the team is up and guys are having fun," Johnson said. "Hopefully, we can just keep it that way around here."
In other injury news, rookie linebacker Brian Cushing (foot) practiced Friday after sitting out Wednesday and Thursday. The Texans' leading tackler also is expected to start.
