Several Texans players sat out of practice on Wednesday because of injuries.
Nose tackle Shaun Cody (ribs), tight end Owen Daniels (hip), wide receiver Kevin Walter (groin) and running back Ben Tate (hamstring) all did not practice. Walter is expected to be fine for Sunday's game at Chicago. The other players' status is unclear.
The most serious injury could be to Cody, who suffered a ribs injury of undisclosed severity in Week 9 against Buffalo. The Houston Chronicle reported Wednesday that Cody has broken ribs and a punctured lung, which has not been confirmed by Cody or the team.
"He's doing better," Texans coach Gary Kubiak said of Cody's injury. "It's going to be a day-to-day deal. Basically, it's getting the soreness back out of him, getting to where he can get back out there and function. Shaun has always been able to work through things. We're just 100 percent committed right now to the training room. I think he's a weekend decision all the way."
Daniels, who's on pace for the best season of his career, injured his hip against the Bills. Kubiak called it a bruise on Monday. He said Wednesday that he doesn't know yet if Daniels will be able to play against the Bears.
"I don't know how to describe it," Kubiak said. "It's a sore back of his hip – very, very sore. Actually, we decided to do some more tests on him this afternoon, so that's why he was not even on the practice field. He's just very, very sore coming out of the game, so we'll see where he's at.
"It's just probably how much progress he can make. Owen can go play without practicing. That's not a problem. I know it's a big game. Owen is from somewhere right around there (Naperville, Ill.), so it's close to home, but we've got to get him back the right way."
Tate missed last Sunday's game with a hamstring injury suffered in Week 7 against Baltimore.
"It's been a little slower than we thought," Kubiak said. "We had hoped to work him over the weekend a little bit. That didn't happen, so then we went to today. We're hoping possibly he's doing something with the trainers tomorrow. It's just going a little slower than we thought."
Cornerback Johnathan Joseph (quadriceps), cornerback Brice McCain (knee) and defensive end Antonio Smith (ankle) were limited in practice on Wednesday. Running back Arian Foster also was limited, but it was strictly a coach's decision to rest him.
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