Owen Daniels could be a huge key for the Texans against the Colts at Reliant Stadium on Sunday.
But how much will he play? He’s coming off of an ACL repair, the third of his football career, and he didn’t play in a preseason game.
Gary Kubiak wants to be cautious, but he could be persuaded to let Daniels play more than the team is planning.
“It’s easy for me to tell you all 20-25 plays,” Kubiak told the Texans media. “I’m feeling good about that right now. I’ll listen to him, is what I’ll do. He’s going to play a quarter of the snaps I would say, or a third of the snaps. If he tells me he feels good then I may let him go. I’ll see how he’ll respond to this week’s work ...
“Let me see how he feels. I want to do whatever is comfortable for him. I don’t want the pressure on OD. To me, the pressure is on us to bring him back the right way.”
In the flow of a game, it could be hard to compute “the right way” if Daniels is effective and helping the cause.
Receiver Kevin Walter has big expectations for Daniels' first game since Nov. 1, 2009.
“It feels like he’s been practicing the whole camp,” Walter said. “He’s not missing a beat. He’s out there running great routes. He’s in great shape and he’s going to help us out big time on Sunday.”
Outside of how the knee handles the work, speed is the question to me. Daniels at his best runs very well. If he doesn’t run as well, does he remain as dangerous?
Peyton Manning certainly expects him to be.
“I’m really happy to hear that he has rehabbed. I’m sure our defense isn't all that happy out there playing because what a weapon he is, but it's credit to him for rehabbing and getting back,” Manning said in a conference call with the Houston media.
“There are a lot of similarities to Dallas Clark in the fact that he’s very versatile. He’s a guy that you have matchup problems with. Do you put a linebacker or a defensive back on him? He’s got great speed. He's a heck of a guy too and glad to see him back healthy.”
When Daniels is out of the game, whether it’s Joel Dreessen or James Casey in his place, the Texans need to keep that guy involved.
But how much will he play? He’s coming off of an ACL repair, the third of his football career, and he didn’t play in a preseason game.
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Brett Davis/US PresswireHow much tight end Owen Daniels plays on Sunday remains to be seen.
Brett Davis/US PresswireHow much tight end Owen Daniels plays on Sunday remains to be seen.“It’s easy for me to tell you all 20-25 plays,” Kubiak told the Texans media. “I’m feeling good about that right now. I’ll listen to him, is what I’ll do. He’s going to play a quarter of the snaps I would say, or a third of the snaps. If he tells me he feels good then I may let him go. I’ll see how he’ll respond to this week’s work ...
“Let me see how he feels. I want to do whatever is comfortable for him. I don’t want the pressure on OD. To me, the pressure is on us to bring him back the right way.”
In the flow of a game, it could be hard to compute “the right way” if Daniels is effective and helping the cause.
Receiver Kevin Walter has big expectations for Daniels' first game since Nov. 1, 2009.
“It feels like he’s been practicing the whole camp,” Walter said. “He’s not missing a beat. He’s out there running great routes. He’s in great shape and he’s going to help us out big time on Sunday.”
Outside of how the knee handles the work, speed is the question to me. Daniels at his best runs very well. If he doesn’t run as well, does he remain as dangerous?
Peyton Manning certainly expects him to be.
“I’m really happy to hear that he has rehabbed. I’m sure our defense isn't all that happy out there playing because what a weapon he is, but it's credit to him for rehabbing and getting back,” Manning said in a conference call with the Houston media.
“There are a lot of similarities to Dallas Clark in the fact that he’s very versatile. He’s a guy that you have matchup problems with. Do you put a linebacker or a defensive back on him? He’s got great speed. He's a heck of a guy too and glad to see him back healthy.”
When Daniels is out of the game, whether it’s Joel Dreessen or James Casey in his place, the Texans need to keep that guy involved.
Paul Kuharsky | email
NFL- ESPN AFC South Blogger
- Covered Oilers/Titans for The Tennessean
- A New Jersey native and Columbia graduate who lives in Nashville with his wife and son
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Paul Kuharsky
Kuharsky joined ESPN.com in 2008 after 12 years covering the Oilers/Titans and the NFL for The (Nashville) Tennessean. The New Jersey native and Columbia graduate lives in Nashville with his wife and son.
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