Texans coach Gary Kubiak and wide receiver Andre Johnson spoke to the media after practice on Friday.
Head coach Gary Kubiak(on the status of WR Andre Johnson) "Andre looked great. He's ready to go. So if there is no setbacks between now and game day, he'll be ready to go. Everybody else is back on the field. Cush (LB Brian Cushing) is back on the field. (DE Tim) Bulman is back on the field. So it looks like we're healthy and ready to go."
(on his thoughts about FB Vonta Leach's outfit today) "Not much. That's Vonta. I don't know what he was supposed to be, to be honest with you. Y'all will have to tell me. I didn't know they made tights that small and that ugly."
(on what the first quarter was like last time they went up against WR Lee Evans) "Yeah, he had a huge game against us—two big plays over 70 yards. They beat us big time on a couple plays there. What was that, two or three years ago? That seems like a long time ago. We're going to have to contain them. With him and T.O. (Terrell Owens) and (WR Josh) Reed, they can make some plays and obviously they've got a heck of a back. Defensively, we're going to have to play extremely well and keep them away from big plays."
(on QB Ryan Fitzpatrick) "I think he's a fine player. Obviously, with our situation this year that we were in and the Sage (Rosenfels) situation, he was one of the guys we studied very, very hard and had high on our list. I think he's a fine player. For a backup, he's gotten a lot of opportunities to play in this league and obviously, this is a great opportunity for him there in Buffalo."
(on if he worries that T.O. could break out and have a big game) "No, I think that's every week. You've got players that are very capable of having big games against you—you never know when guys are going to get those opportunities or when the plays are going to come their way. We know all their weapons. We know what they are capable of. We just have to play good as a football team."
(on if there is any thought to use RB Chris Brown more) "Steve is going to get his load in the game. Like I said, we'd like to get Ryan some carries in there too—and Chris. We'd like to get them all. It just depends on how many times we run the ball and how the game goes. Steve has to do his job that he's been doing for this team and add protecting the ball to that job."
(on if he watches film from the Buffalo game a couple years ago) "Yeah, I went back briefly and looked at it this week because (head coach) Dick (Jauron) is still there and a lot of the things they do are the same. I think they were just big plays against man coverage. They were double-move plays if I recall correctly. He (WR Lee Evans) can fly. He's made those big plays against a lot of people.
WR Andre Johnson
(on how the new equipment feels) "It feels a little different. Like I said, it was something I've worn before when I played football when I was younger. It felt a little different because I haven't worn it in awhile. I don't think it's really a big deal. I don't think it will restrict me from doing anything."
(on it not messing with any movement) "No, I don't think it will. Out in practice, I felt fine with it on and 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."
(on if that helps his mindset to protect the area where he got hit) "I'm not really worried about the hit because I didn't feel any pain or anything from it and I'm not in any pain, so I'm not really worried about. It's not even really on my mind."
(on the potential of getting to 5-3 for the first time in team history) "Yeah, that's something you think about. That's something that, if it happened, would be a great feeling—just the attitude of the team. When you win, the attitude of the team is up and the guys are having fun. Hopefully we can just keep it that way around here."
(onFB Vonta Leach's spandex outfit) "I don't know. It was crazy. I think it loosened the guys up a little bit today for practice. Everybody was laughing. All the coaches were laughing at them. We were able to go out there and focus on what we had to get done. Like I said, I think it loosened the guys up. I got about 10 pictures on my phone. It was funny. I think it was really funny what he did."
