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Practice report: Green ready

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Running back Ahman Green will play on Sunday after missing last week's game with a thigh injury.

The Texans wrapped up Friday's practice with both good news and bad news on the injury front.

Green ready, Okoye doubtful: Running back Ahman Green, sidelined last week by a thigh injury, will rejoin the Texans' backfield rotation against the Baltimore Ravens' top-ranked rushing defense.

"Ahman is ready to go," head coach Gary Kubiak said. "When he's been part of what we're doing, we've been better."

Green has averaged 4.6 yards per carry this season with 48 carries for 219 yards and a touchdown. He'll provide valuable relief for rookie starter Steve Slaton this week and veteran experience in pass protection to pick up the Ravens' complicated blitz schemes.

Defensive tackle Amobi Okoye did not participate in practice for the third consecutive day with a high-ankle sprain. He is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game, and Kubiak said he will be a game-time decision.

DelJuan Robinson, who has started two games this season, and rookie Frank Okam, who hasn't played since Week 4 at Jacksonville, would get increased reps if Okoye misses a game for the first time in his career.

Faith in Nall: Kubiak was impressed with the week of practice put in by Craig Nall, whom the Texans signed on Wednesday to be Sage Rosenfels' backup with Matt Schaub out with an MCL injury.

Nall, 29, spent three weeks with the Texans last season when Schaub was hurt. He was cut by the Texans on Nov. 21, 2007, and finished the year with the Green Bay Packers.

"He's practiced pretty good," Kubiak said. "For a guy who hasn't been around here in a while, he hasn't missed a beat this week. He did the things we asked him to do.

"If he gets forced into a situation, I don't have any doubt that he can handle it. He's been around big-time football in this league. We'll limit his package if he has to go, but for the situation we're in, I think he's done a heck of a job."

A fifth-round draft pick by the Packers from Northwestern (La.) State in 2002, Nall has played in seven games in his NFL career, all with the Packers. He is 30-of-48 (62.5 percent) for 402 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions with a passer rating of 123.8. In his most recent action, Nall was seven-of-15 for 88 yards and a touchdown in the Packers' 2007 regular-season finale.

Respect for Allen:The NFL reportedly fined Vikings defensive end Jared Allen $50,000 today for two below-the-knee hits on Schaub during last Sunday's game. Kubiak had sent three plays involving Allen to the league for review earlier this week.

No decision had been made by the league when Kubiak met with the media after the Texans' Friday practice. But Kubiak wanted to make it clear that nobody on the Texans said earlier this week that they thought Allen intended to hurt Schaub.

"You haven't heard one thing from this guy or anybody on this football team saying that Jared Allen tried to hurt our quarterback," Kubiak said. "That has never taken place. I've got a lot of respect for Jared Allen. He's a hell of a football player. I've coached against him for a long time.

"The bottom line, we just tried to protect our player from a hit that we think the league is trying to get rid of. But by no means do we think this young man was trying to hurt anybody. I've never seen him play that way."

Other injuries: Linebacker Chaun Thompson (hamstring) is listed as probable and also will be a game-time decision, Kubiak said.

For the official injury report, click **here**.

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