The Texans practiced Friday morning at the Methodist Training Center, and head coach Gary Kubiak and linebacker Brian Cushing answered questions from the media after the workout. The following is a transcript of their respective interviews.
Head Coach Gary KubiakLB Brian Cushing
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Head Coach Gary Kubiak(on anything new at practice) "The quarterback is fine, he's ready to go. (LB) Zac (Diles) is still not feeling better. Hopefully he will be released sometime this afternoon from the hospital, if everything is okay. My expectations are that he will be ready to go."
(on why LB Zac Diles was in the hospital) "He just hadn't been feeling well, just trying to get fluids in him and get him feeling better. I thought maybe he'd be over here today, but didn't feel good about that this morning. So we'll see where we're at this afternoon."
(on how long LB Zac Diles has been in the hospital) "He went in yesterday. Yesterday morning, he started feeling ill in the meetings. That's when we put him in (the hospital) and had been through the night."
(on the status of TE Owen Daniels) "OD (TE Owen Daniels) did fieldwork this week, so that's a positive, but he's still got a ways to go. He's not going to be ready to go this week and we'll see where he's at next week."
(on any other game-time decisions) "The only thing right now is (LB) Zac (Diles). I mean, really that's it. (QB) Matt (Schaub) is fine unless something happens between now and then. (WR) Andre (Johnson) has practiced the last two days. Other than that, (LB Xavier) Adibi is back and should be ready to go. Other than that, we're okay."
(on if LB Zac Diles would not be able to play this weekend, who will replace him) "(LB Darryl) Sharpton will go. Sharpton has been working there and of course (LB Xavier) Adibi has missed a lot of time, but he's back this week and should be able to help us.
(on if QB Matt Schaub took all of his reps with the starters on offense) "Yeah, he did everything that he does on Friday. He's fine and everything responded good yesterday."
(on if he believe in the Sports Illustrated jinx) "Sports Illustrated jinx? I've never been on it so, I don't know if there is a jinx."
(on the Jets offensive line being on the cover of Sports Illustrated this week) "They ought to feature them. They're pretty damn good. They are playing well. They got a lot of depth throughout their football team. They can win all kind of ways, throwing it, running it and defensively shutting you down. In special teams they have a big returner. A very well-built football team that's finding a way to get it done week-in and week-out in close football games.'
(on what's special about the Jets offensive line) "They got a great leader inside. Their center is an excellent player. He gets them all in the right spot; an excellent young left tackle, which everybody is looking for in this league. They are in good position because they are very balanced. They can run it and throw it. (Jets offensive coordinator Brian) Schottenheimer does a hell of a job of keeping people off balance in what they do."
(on why the Jets struggle in the red zone) "First of all, people haven't been down there very much. They played nine games this year and I think I got a chance to look at 40 snaps in nine games in the red zone. So there have not been a lot of people down there. Those percentages can get out of whack. Sometimes, offensively, you have a team ranked real high in the red zone, but they only been down there a few times. I think you got to look past that. They are a good football team."
(on Jets QB Mark Sanchez) "The thing that has been very impressive here is the last two weeks he's had his team in two overtime games and he took his team to victory in both games. The more you play in this league, the more snaps you get. If you're going to be a good player, you get better and he's getting better every week."
LB Brian Cushing(on how special it will be for him to play in his home state of New Jersey) "It is special, I'm looking forward to the opportunity. I'm excited about it. I haven't played at home since I was a senior in high school. So going back to the Meadowlands and being able to play in that area is going to be special to me."
(on coming back to New Jersey and playing as a NFL player) "That's one of those things that you can look back and be pretty proud about. At the same time, it gives a little extra motivation to really go out there and play the perfect game you want to."
(on how many of his friends and family will be in the stands) "It'll be a good amount. I have a lot of family so I'll be looking to put on a show."
(on which New York team did he follow growing up) "I think I was more familiar with the Giants. Just because a couple of guys from my high school played for them and they were closer, as far as facilities. But I'm very familiar with both of those teams."
(on how are things for him as a player and getting back on track) "Very good and that's the thing, getting on the right track and finding the identity of this defense and playing the type of defense that we know we are capable of doing."
