Notes from the Texans' practice and locker room on Friday at Reliant Stadium:
Healthy on the whole
Aside from Arian Foster and his lingering hamstring issue, the Texans are an almost completely healthy team heading into Sunday's game against Indianapolis.
Foster is questionable for the game, and rookie cornerback Roc Carmichael was ruled out on Friday with a shoulder injury. No other players were listed as doubtful or questionable.
Seven were listed as probable, including linebacker DeMeco Ryans (elbow/ankle).
"He's ready to go," Texans coach Gary Kubiak said. "We may keep an eye on him numbers-wise how many plays he plays, but he's assured me he's ready to go. In practice this week, it sure looks that way."
Captains named
The Texans named their 2011 season captains, which are voted on by players, on Friday. Kubiak announced them to the team in the huddle after practice, then filled in the media a few minutes later.
Captains on offense are quarterback Matt Schaub and wide receiver Andre Johnson. Captains on defense are Ryans and defensive end Antonio Smith. Neil Rackers is the special teams captain. All but Rackers were captains in 2010.
9/11 tribute
Sunday will be the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on New York City, Washington D.C. and Pennsylvania.
"It's special, and I know the league is doing a lot of great things to honor those that we lost on that day," Kubiak said. "I know exactly where I was that morning. We had just got through playing the New York Giants and I walked in my office. It brings back memories, so it will be nice for the game to honor those people this weekend."
Part of the pregame ceremonies at Reliant Stadium – and league-wide for games with a noon CT kickoff – will be a broadcast of "Taps" being played from Shanksville, Pa., near the crash site of United Airlines Flight 93. There will be a moment of silence as a field-sized American flag is unrolled at Reliant Stadium.
The Texans' Homefield Advantage Captains will be Fire Department New York firefighters Joel Attis, Timothy Hinchey, Michael Kaeser and Brian Gibbons, along with New York Police Department officers Robert Bello, Joseph Sanfilippo, Thomas Bomeisl and Amin Kosseim.
Quotable
"I believe on the stat sheet, they still count it as a sack whether it's Kerry Collins or Peyton Manning. I'm just excited about the opportunity to play in the NFL and to go out there and try and get after somebody."
- Rookie DE J.J. Watt, on if it takes anything away from Week 1 knowing that Colts QB Peyton Manning won't be playing
"Nope. He didn't hit me in my inbox."
- RB Arian Foster, on if he had any e-mail communication on Friday with the "hamstring god"
