Brian Cushing didn't practice on Wednesday or Thursday because of a knee injury. But head coach Bill O'Brien hasn't ruled the inside linebacker out for Sunday's matchup with Tennessee.
"He's day-to-day," O'Brien said. "We'll see how he is tomorrow. We'll bring him to Tennessee and we'll see how he is before the game."
Cushing hasn't missed a regular season game in 2014, but was lost for the last nine games of 2013 when he suffered a knee injury in Week 7 at Kansas City. Cushing's been used on a more limited
basis than in years' past this season.
"He's getting better every day," O'Brien said. "I think coming off that injury, you know, postgame is always, there is a lot of soreness. We have to ease him back into the week."
Mike Mohamed, Justin Tuggle and Akeem Dent are all inside linebackers with varying degrees of experience, and O'Brien discussed who might suit up in the middle for the Texans if Cushing was unable to go.
"Obviously you have Tuggle that's been playing next to him," O'Brien said. "Dent could play. Mohamed could play. There are lot of different ways you could go."
O'Brien also said the Texans could operate with packages that would have safeties filling in at that spot, too.
Defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel would like to see Cushing on the field, and said if there are no physical limitations, then the sixth-year veteran would be available.
"As long as he's able to go, we're going to try to let him go," Crennel said.
The Texans will practice Friday and leave for Nashville on Saturday afternoon. Kickoff is Sunday at noon CT.
