For a team allegedly wracked by injuries, the Colts' list of wounded sure is short today. On the other hand, your Houston Texans' list is rather long. That does not fill me with confidence on this otherwise sunny day:

INDIANAPOLIS
D. Federekiel--out (bolshephobia)
R. Hall--out (cryptorchidism)
B. Sanders--out (bogyphobia)

HOUSTON
M. Bruener--out (hamstring)
C. Taylor--out (quadricep)
W. Demps--doubtful (hamstring)
X. Adibi--questionable (illness) Ed. Note: Really? Like a cold? Has X-Factor been healthy for six (6) consecutive minutes since he was drafted?
K. Bentley--questionable (ankle)
D. Ryans--probable (ankle)
B. Harrison--probable (shoulder)
E. Salaam--probable (knee)
E. Winston--probable (ankle)

It's the third game for your Houston Texans, so I figure the time is ripe for us to resurrect the ol' "Injury Report" schtick. You know the drill: The status and listing of each player is truthful, but I occasionally somehow misread the actual alleged injury. Yahtzee!

HOUSTON
M. Bruener--out (hamstring)
B. Harrison--out (shoulder)
A. Green--questionable (stiff breeze)
K. Walter--probable (toe)
F. Bennett--probable (shoulder)
Z. Diles--probable (shoulder)
E. Salaam--probable (knee)
E. Winston--probable (knee)
Tr. Johnson--probable (knee)
D. Robinson--probable (knee)

JACKSONVILLE
R. Nelson--out (vaginal prolapse)
B. Meester--out (phagophobia)
C. Naeole--out (Cauda Equina syndrome)
J. Durant--doubtful (Triskaidekaphobia)
M. Drew--probable (primordial dwarfism)
F. Taylor--probable (spasmodic torticollis)
T. McDaniel--probable (aulophobia)
T. Williams--probable (testicle cellulitis)
T. Williamson--probable (lactation mastitis)
J. Porter--probable (catagelophobia)

In the name of charity and goodwill, the Texans took time to visit the Astros at Minute Maid Park for a round of batting practice. In the now sixth annual Reliant Energy Home Run Derby, the Texans hacked their way to the biggest donation to date, with proceeds going to the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Houston.  The ten Texan players who made the ten mile trek from Reliant Park to Minute Maid were Matt Schaub, Sage Rosenfels, Mario Williams, DeMeco Ryans, Eric Winston, Kris Brown, Mark Bruener, Owen Daniels, Bryan Pittman, and Chester Pitts.

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Some interesting things are intersecting in the Texans blogosphere...Matt over at DGDB&D has an interesting piece. It's specifically about an argument he's engaged in, but more generally, it's about how the Texans are viewed nationally.

At the same time, Sportsgamer.com just came out with the Madden 09 ratings shown in their graphic to the right.  You can definitely get a sense how the guys at EA Sports feel about the Texans. I bring this up because the Texans are about to enter a watershed season.

Anyone that knows football knows the Texans took a giant leap forward last season. Lots of 2nd and 3rd string players, as well as new starters, established themselves. Guys like Kevin Walter and Fred Bennett put themselves on the map. All but the most hardened man-crushes have let go of the Mario-bashing and decided that Young and Bush are more hype than substance. So with all that, the Texans are poised to make their mark in the national spotlight.

If you read this blog, you're probably a Texans homer.  You know that Mike Brisiel is going to steamroll Albert Haynesworth this year, and that Zac Diles is going to put Goldberg's spear on Maurice Jones-Drew.  So obviously our view of Texans players is probably a little skewed.

That being said, it'll be up to you to set the world right and lead the Texans to conquer the national stage.  Check out the ratings below and see what I mean.

 

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Just in case you missed it everywhere else, the NFL owners have opted out of the current CBA, and 2010 is currently an uncapped year.  A move like this obviously has large implications.  Right now, it's permeating just about every kind of NFL coverage.  Welcome to OTA: Day 2 .

 

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