Question: How many reps does Arian Foster need to be ready for the regular season?
Answer (from The Only Man Who Speaks Pterodactyl himself): "62. It’s a science, man. It’s a science."
More quotes from Foster and Gary Kubiak after the jump.
Arian Foster, on Arian Foster:
(on how it felt to be participating today) "It felt good getting back out there cutting, running around. It felt good."
(on if there’s any limitations to him right now) "No, not really. I’m pretty much 100 percent but I’m just not going to push myself past the limit right now. There’s no need to, so."
(on if he’s playing Saturday) "I don’t know. We’ll see how it goes. It felt good today but we’re going to take it day by day."
(on if it’s difficult to just let go because of the hamstring injury) "No, not really. Hamstrings are a part of a runner’s life. You can’t really ever know when it’s healed unless you just feel it. It’s kind of a feeling that you know. Right now there’s just no reason to push it, go all out and try to win a marathon race or a sprint. We’re just going to take it day by day."
(on how important it is to play in more than one preseason game) "It’s important to just get the feel of football again. To bounce around, get hit, hit guys, see the field, feel the defenders around you. Running back is probably like 90 percent instinctual, I mean instinctive. You need those reps and I’m glad to be back out here."
(on if he felt like himself out there today) "I feel like myself every day, but as far as football shape, yeah I felt like myself. I felt good on my cuts, but like I said earlier, we’re just going to take it day by day. I’m not going to push it 100 percent so we’ll just go about that."
Gary Kubiak on Arian Foster:
"I thought he looked good. We told him to be smart when he came out here today. It looked like he was fine, so hopefully every day’s a progression and we work towards Saturday night. It’s a good step in the right direction."
Speaking of injured running backs, I don't think there's any way the Texans would cut Ben Tate. Yet. Next season, though? If he still can't stay on the field? Totally different story.
For the record, I think your Houston Texans will carry four (4) running backs heading into Week One. Said running backs' names will be Arian Foster, Derrick Ward, Ben Tate, and Chris Ogbonnaya.