The Houston Texans have already taken on water on the preseason front with injuries to backup quarterback A.J. McCarron and receiver Keke Coutee.
McCarron injured the thumb on his throwing hand on Aug. 6, two days before the club’s preseason opener at the Green Bay Packers, and Coutee injured his ankle during that very game.
Coach Bill O’Brien, who does not give out injury reports during training camp and preseason as there is no mandate from the NFL to do so, provided some information as to the status of McCarron and Coutee.
“I don’t expect either one of them to be back soon, relative to what soon means,” O’Brien said. “Like, tomorrow? No. A week from now? Probably not. So, we’ll just keep playing it by ear. We don’t put out an injury report during this time of the year. When we have to do that, we’ll do that.”
Houston had to roll with third-string quarterback Joe Webb under center throughout the entire 28-26 loss to the Packers. Though the club signed undrafted rookie quarterback Jordan Ta’amu two days prior, the club elected to stick with Webb for the whole game.
Coutee injured his ankle on a 9-yard catch, but it was part of a terrible night for the second-year receiver from Texas Tech as his muffed punt with 1:54 in the first quarter led to Green Bay taking a 7-0 lead.
The Texans had some positive news on the injury front as receiver DeAndre Carter returned from the physically unable to perform list Saturday. Carter, in addition to being a returner, can fill in for Coutee at the slot receiver.
