Texans WR Johnson dislocates finger but avoids serious injury

HOUSTON -- Texans All-Pro wide receiver Andre Johnson will miss "a day or two" of practice after dislocating his left index finger in a morning workout.

Coach Gary Kubiak said Johnson will be OK.

"I think we got lucky," Kubiak said.

Johnson wore a bandage on his finger as he watched the Tuesday afternoon walk-through from the sideline.

Johnson was running a slant route in an individual drill and leaped to catch a pass, with rookie cornerback Roc Carmichael defending. Johnson couldn't make the catch and came down shaking his left hand. He took off his glove, his finger was bleeding and he walked to the sideline, where a trainer examined him.

"As soon as I felt it pop, I felt it out of place and I popped it right back in," Johnson said. "I really wasn't in a lot of pain, or anything like that. It was just more concern about the bleeding and stuff."

Johnson left the field on a cart and went to the hospital. He was back at Reliant Stadium by 1 p.m., eating lunch in the cafeteria with his teammates.

"I wasn't scared," Johnson said. "It's just a dislocated finger. I've had worse. I don't think I'll be worried about a finger keeping me from missing anything."

The 6-foot-3, 223-pound Johnson had 86 catches for 1,216 yards last season, ranking sixth in both categories. He played most of 2010 with a sprained right ankle and underwent surgery in January -- a much more serious injury than this one, he said.

"It's just a finger," Johnson said. "I played with a bum ankle. I don't think a finger is going to keep me out. I'm fine. I'm just letting it heal up, and I'll be right back out there."

Kubiak said he'll wait for doctors to clear Johnson to return to work.

"When he's ready to go, he'll go," Kubiak said. "But it's an opportunity for these younger guys to take some reps."

The NFL free agency cycle is in full effect, with teams and players agreeing to terms fast as training camps open. Get the latest on all the news right here.

Second-year receiver Dorin Dickerson took Johnson's first-team reps for the remainder of practice. Kubiak also said cornerback Jason Allen and guard Wade Smith missed some snaps on Tuesday, due to illness.

Linebacker Brian Cushing has sat out team drills for the first two days as he continues to recover from offseason knee surgery. Cushing had an ice wrap on his knee after Tuesday's morning workout but participated in the afternoon walk-through.

"He's a few days away," Kubiak said of Cushing. "I'll have to let you know from day to day. He's the one guy we had who wasn't quite ready to go on the field (on Monday). We're just trying to take our time to do that."

Kubiak and general manager Rick Smith acknowledged on Tuesday that the team is talking to two free agents - defensive end Ty Warren and fullback Lawrence Vickers.

The 6-5, 300-pound Warren was cut by New England after playing for the Patriots from 2003-09. He spent last season on injured reserve with a hip injury. The 6-foot, 250-pound Vickers has played five seasons with Cleveland. Houston is looking to replace All-Pro fullback Vonta Leach, who helped Arian Foster lead the NFL in rushing in 2010.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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Asomugha could be part of solution for Texans in free agency

The NFL lockout hasn't done the Houston Texans any favors.

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For all of the talk about how the labor strife has impacted rookie players and rookie head coaches, the Texans also are in bind as they look to switch to a 3-4 defense under new coordinator Wade Phillips and, more to the point, change the entire culture on that side of the ball.

There is significant pressure on the franchise to finally break through and reach the playoffs, and that task is only compounded by all of the teaching, learning and bonding time lost because of the lockout. That's all the more reason for the Texans to be aggressive in free agency, and all the more reason for them to target specific areas of the defense.

The Texans indeed are prepared to be aggressive in free agency, according to league sources, and will be among the teams pursuing All-Pro cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha.

While awaiting a collective bargaining agreement and new free-agency rules, it's very difficult to gauge the market and how high the price for a top cornerback will go. But look for the Texans to closely monitor that market and determine if the price point on Asomugha fits their budget.

The secondary is an area in need of upgrade, and the Texans routinely have been willing to spend under dedicated owner Bob McNair. So they will target that area in free agency.

A year ago, the Texans let cornerback Dunta Robinson go, a move that was understandable given concerns about his injury history and his salary spiraling on the open market (he signed a six-year, $57 million deal with the Atlanta Falcons). Houston made a concerted push to land free-agent cornerback Leigh Bodden but ultimately lost out as he remained in New England.

Asomugha, who has spent his entire NFL career with the Oakland Raiders, is far and away the premier cornerback available this year, but the Bengals' Jonathan Joseph is another option.

Houston also is looking for safety help, and Gerald Sensabaugh is a logical free-agent candidate. I expect the Texans to make a bid for him as well.

Sensabaugh has strong ties to Phillips through their time together in Dallas and knows the coach's system well. Sensabaugh could help teach it to others, with time of the essence after the lockout ends.

Adding a shutdown corner and a dependable safety will be imperative for a Houston team that has fallen prey to critical breakdowns at crucial times and a defense that has yielded shocking amounts of yardage and points far too often. Change is needed, and Phillips will look to shake up the make-up and attitude of that unit whenever the market finally opens.

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Bush on tenure running Texans' defense: 'It just didn't work out'

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Broncos' Tebow earns second start of season against Texans

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- The Denver Broncos don't care if everyone knows it, including the Houston Texans: Tim Tebow will start again Sunday.

Rather than keep everybody guessing, interim coach Eric Studesville made the unusual move Monday of announcing that Tebow would be under center when the Broncos (3-11) play host to the Texans (5-9).

Studesville said Kyle Orton is still bothered by bruised ribs and that Tebow did a good job managing the game plan, the team and the crowd in his first NFL start Sunday despite Denver's 39-23 loss at Oakland.

"Well, the reason right now was that we felt that Tim played well yesterday, ran our offense effectively," Studesville said. "Compounding that was the fact that Kyle still was rehabbing ... and we just felt like prolonging this later into the week wasn't the best thing for our preparation and practice."

So, now the Texans don't have to worry about preparing for two quarterbacks, one a right-handed prolific passer and the other a rookie southpaw.

Studesville thought the benefit to the Broncos outweighed any concerns about the Texans knowing it.

"I think they'll certainly have tape on him now to have a game plan," Studesville said. "What they'll do differently ... we're going to do some things differently because we'll have more information on him too, now. So, how that all plays out I'm not exactly sure."

Tebow, who was stunningly selected with the 25th overall pick in the April draft by former coach Josh McDaniels, had thrown just one NFL pass before Sunday and most of his two dozen snaps had come in specialty situations such as short-yardage and goal line packages.

His repertoire was limited Sunday because of bad weather and offensive coordinator Mike McCoy's conservative game calling but he showed enough to merit more playing time and perhaps more of a chance to throw the ball.

"We know more now about Tim and what he can do in a game, we can give him things," Studesville said. "But the entire game plan is still based on what we think gives us the best chance against the Houston Texans, and that's what's going to determine the volume of the playbook more than anything else."

Asked if team owner Pat Bowlen might have suggested the move to ensure there isn't a sea of empty seats at Invesco Field on Sunday, Studesville said he indeed met with the owner and chief operating officer Joe Ellis in the morning but that it was his decision alone. He said Bowlen and Ellis agreed with his call.

Although Studesville gave his team the day off Monday, both quarterbacks reported to Dove Valley, Orton for treatment on the ribs he bruised in a loss at Arizona on Dec. 12, and got the news.

Studesville said Orton didn't object.

"No, he's a professional," Studesville said.

Tebow had moments of greatness and moments of grief in his first career start.

By the time the first quarter ended, he had joined Kordell Stewart and Michael Vick as the only quarterbacks in NFL history to run for a 40-yard touchdown and throw for a 30-yard touchdown in the same game.

He was a bit lucky: his 40-yard scamper was supposed to be a hand-off and his 33-yard touchdown strike went through the hands of cornerback Stanford Routt before Brandon Lloyd caught it as he rolled out of bounds.

Tebow admitted after the game that on his touchdown run, he was supposed to hand off to tailback Correll Buckhalter on third-and-24.

"My reaction was it was seven points no matter how it happened," Studesville said Monday.

So, it's forgivable when a rookie goofs up?

"Forgivable? No," Studesville said. "But I'm happy it worked out in a good way."

The Raiders were impressed by the NFL's most intriguing pro prospect since Vick joined the Atlanta Falcons out of Virginia Tech in 2001.

Raiders cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha got a good hit on Tebow late in the game but Tebow, who weighs nearly 250 pounds, doled out a lot of punishment himself.

"A lot of guys will either slide or they'll try to take the path of least resistance. But he's going to go head-up with a guy, every time. He's a big guy, tough to bring down," Asomugha said.

That's the concern about Tebow: can he last in this league with that same style that helped him win two national titles and a Heisman Trophy at Florida?

"He's a tough runner. He runs like a back," Raiders safety Michael Huff said. "Once he gets more experience throwing the ball, he'll be a good quarterback."

He's definitely a work-in-progress quarterback who needs more polish in his footwork and throwing mechanics to go with his high energy and enthusiasm.

Tebow completed eight passes for 138 yards and ran eight times for 78 and wasn't picked off Sunday.

"People said he couldn't be an NFL quarterback but he made some good throws, he had some good runs," Oakland linebacker Quentin Groves said. "He does what suits him best and that's what it is."

And what best suits him right now is throwing occasionally and running -- he averaged 9.8 yards a carry.

"He earned a lot of respect from me today," defensive tackle Tommy Kelly said. "He's a lot better athlete than you think he is. You heard so much about him and then you play him. He made a couple moves out there today that surprised me. I think he's got a bright future."

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Frustration over rout leads to brawl between Texans' Johnson, Titans' Finnegan

HOUSTON -- Andre Johnson politely asked Cortland Finnegan to stop it. By the fourth quarter, Houston's star receiver had simply had it with the Tennessee cornerback's antagonistic antics.

Their feisty duel exploded into a full-blown fistfight late in the Texans' 20-0 win over the Titans on Sunday. Both players were ejected, and the ugly incident could lead to further discipline from the NFL.

"He kept doing little things and I told him: 'Just because you're frustrated, you need to stop what you're doing,'" Johnson said. "I guess he thought it was funny."

The usually soft-spoken Johnson caught nine passes and a touchdown before walking off the field to a standing ovation.

"It's just a buildup of things over plays," Johnson said. "I just lost my cool."

Finnegan did not speak to reporters after the game.

"It's not good for the game, no," said Titans coach Jeff Fisher, co-chairman of the NFL's competition committee. "You don't want to see that stuff."

Arian Foster rushed for 143 yards and also caught nine passes for the Texans (5-6), who were on their way to their first shutout since 2004 when Johnson and Finnegan began slugging it out midway through the fourth quarter.

The two got into a milder shoving match on the previous play, with Johnson giving Finnegan a shot in the back before Finnegan took off his helmet and walked away.

Finnegan then set off the brawl by jabbing at Johnson's neck and face mask at the line of scrimmage. Johnson ripped off Finnegan's helmet and landed at least two punches to Finnegan's head and neck. The two spun each other, and Finnegan tore off Johnson's helmet before players and referees intervened.

"I awarded it to Andre on points," Texans owner Bob McNair joked.

This was Round 2 between Johnson and Finnegan. Last season, Johnson was fined $7,500 for taking Finnegan to the ground by the face mask during a scuffle after a play in a 34-31 Texans win.

Johnson said this week: "That's the past, I'm over that. That's way behind me, I don't think about that." But Finnegan got under his skin again, and Johnson was apologetic after the game.

"I wish that I could take back what happened, but I can't," Johnson said. "I'm pretty sure I'll be disciplined for it."

Houston plays at Philadelphia on Thursday night.

The incident, meanwhile, came at the end of a tumultuous week for the Titans (5-6), who've lost four in a row.

Houston cornerback Glover Quin set a franchise record with three interceptions off Titans rookie quarterback Rusty Smith, who struggled in his first career start.

Smith replaced Houston native Vince Young, who argued with Fisher after he was taken out of last week's loss to Washington with a thumb injury. Young was placed on injured reserve and apologized to Fisher via text message. Young did not join his team for Sunday's game.

Smith completed 17 of 31 passes for 138 yards and a 26.7 passer rating.

"I wish I could have some of those throws back," Smith said. "You can't get them back."

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Titans offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger was on the sideline calling plays after he was diagnosed with cancer this week. He's due to start chemotherapy Monday.

The drama with Young and Heimerdinger overshadowed the matchup of the two top rushers in the AFC, Foster and Chris Johnson. It was a mismatch: Foster set a Texans record with his sixth 100-yard game of the season, while Johnson managed a career-low 5 yards on seven carries.

"We weren't able to run the ball at all," Johnson said. "I don't know why we couldn't run it."

The Texans, with the league's 31st-ranked defense, had not held an opponent to fewer than 24 points all season. They dominated from the start Sunday, limiting the Titans to 12 yards and no first downs in the first quarter.

Quin got his first career interception on the first play of the second quarter, a much-needed confidence boost for the second-year cornerback. Quin batted a last-second desperation pass into the hands of receiver Mike Thomas for the winning score in a 31-24 loss at Jacksonville two weeks ago.

Schaub threw touchdown passes to tight end Joel Dreessen and Andre Johnson in the second quarter. Schaub completed 25 of 35 passes for 178 yards in the game.

Neil Rackers kicked a 36-yard field goal that bounced off the left upright for a 17-0 lead in the third quarter, and the Titans' offense was no better in the second half. Tennessee got to the Houston 12 when safety Bernard Pollard was whistled for pass interference. Quin then intercepted Smith's pass near the goal line.

Foster ran 37 yards down the sideline, and the Titans were flagged for a personal foul after the play, tacking on another 15 yards. A few plays later, the individual battle between Johnson and Finnegan boiled over.

Notes: Andre Johnson became the first player to make 60 receptions in each of his first eight seasons. Houston coach Gary Kubiak awarded Johnson the game ball for the accomplishment -- not for the fight. ... Titans K Rob Bironas had his franchise record streak of consecutive games with a field goal snapped at 20. ... Titans WR Randy Moss caught three receptions to reach 952 for his career and pass Andre Reed for eighth all-time.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Resilient Jets make Texans latest victim of dramatic finish

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Nailbiting, racing hearts and stunning comebacks.

They're all in the playbook lately for the New York Jets.

Santonio Holmes caught a 6-yard touchdown pass from Mark Sanchez with 10 seconds left, lifting the Jets to an unlikely 30-27 comeback victory over the Houston Texans on Sunday.

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"I want to apologize to all the Jets fans for affecting the heart a little bit," coach Rex Ryan said. "But we'll take the win."

Especially since it appeared the Jets were on their way to a heartbreaking loss.

"We don't think we're ever out of it at all," tight end Dustin Keller said. "We tick ourselves off when we put ourselves in those situations, but we know that we're always capable of coming back in any game in any situation."

They've certainly proven that during the last three weeks with consecutive overtime wins on the road and now a victory that appeared improbable.

"I swear it's like `Groundhog Day,'" a beaming Sanchez said.

After blowing a 16-point lead in the fourth quarter, the Jets (8-2) trailed 27-23 with less than a minute left. But Sanchez completed two passes to LaDainian Tomlinson and then had a pretty 42-yard toss to Braylon Edwards with 16 seconds remaining. Edwards was knocked out of bounds by Eugene Wilson, stopping the clock and giving the Jets a chance to win.

On the next play, Sanchez coolly found Holmes streaking into the left corner of the end zone for the winning score, sending the New Meadowlands Stadium crowd into a frenzy.

"It's just me playing football," Holmes said.

A video replay confirmed that Holmes, whose 37-yard touchdown catch won it in overtime at Cleveland last week and set up the win at Detroit with a 52-yard reception in OT, got both feet in bounds.

"We're cutting it awfully close," Sanchez said. "I don't think anybody has any finger nails left if they're a Jets fan."

The Jets were coming off becoming the first team to win consecutive overtime games on the road, and looked as though they were going to fall to 2-3 at home.

But it was another heartbreaking loss for the Texans (4-6), who fell last week on a desperation heave as time expired at Jacksonville. Two weeks ago, Houston lost to San Diego on a late interception after driving for a potential go-ahead score in the fourth quarter.

"We deserve better in these last three games," Texans defensive end Mario Williams said. "We were there. Everything is there and we're doing great and all of a sudden, we let the big play go. It's unheard of. We just keep having it happen to us."

It seemed Houston was in good shape in this one as Arian Foster scored a questionable go-ahead 1-yard touchdown with 2:18 remaining.

Foster, the NFL's leading rusher, was hit at the goal line but reached out as he landed on a teammate and the ball broke the plane for a touchdown. Ryan challenged the call, thinking Foster was down, but the play was upheld after replay review.

Neil Rackers kicked a 22-yard field goal with 55 seconds to go after Sanchez was intercepted by Kevin Bentley -- sending thousands of fans to the exits.

For those who stayed, they were treated to another incredible ending.

"If I have to apologize for it every week from here on out, I will," Ryan said, "all the way to the Super Bowl."

Sanchez finished 22 for 38 for 315 yards and three touchdowns, including two to Holmes and one to Edwards. Holmes finished with seven catches for 126 yards.

New York gets back to work quickly, with another home game Thursday night against Cincinnati.

Foster had 84 yards rushing and two touchdown runs. Matt Schaub, starting after being hospitalized Tuesday night with a knee injury, threw for 254 yards and a touchdown to Joel Dreessen.

"I'm still searching for the adjective for how I would describe it," Schaub said. "It's tough to deal with."

The Jets went up 20-7 on Holmes' 41-yard touchdown catch with 4:38 remaining in the third quarter.

The score came moments after a man jumped onto the field and dashed across the turf for about 80 yards before tripping and then being jumped on by several security officers, including two New Jersey State troopers. He was handcuffed and led away from the field.

Nick Folk kicked a 30-yard field goal to make it 23-7 and giving the Jets what appeared to be a comfortable lead with 9 seconds into the fourth quarter.

Houston then began its comeback with Rackers' 38-yard field goal with 12:21 that made it 23-10.

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The Texans also took advantage of a fumble by Shonn Greene, scoring immediately after Brian Cushing knocked the ball loose and Bentley recovered. Schaub found Dreessen wide open down the left sideline and the big tight end ran into the end zone untouched for a 43-yard touchdown that made it 23-17 with 9:14 left.

"It was a great comeback, then we let it slip away," Texans owner Bob McNair said. "When it's going tough, you've got to step up. They stepped up. We didn't. They are all painful."

Notes: Jets right tackle Damien Woody left with a knee injury and didn't return. Ryan had no update on his status. ... Tomlinson passed Curtis Martin for seventh place on the NFL's career yards from scrimmage list. He has 17,452 combined rushing and receiving yards. Marcus Allen, with 17,654 yards, is next on the list. ... Texans LB Zac Diles (illness) and TE Owen Daniels (hamstring) were inactive, as was Jets WR Jerricho Cotchery (groin).

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Texans can't slow Rivers as he rallies Chargers with cast of backups

HOUSTON -- Philip Rivers picked apart the Houston Texans' porous pass defense, even without some of his favorite receivers.

The NFL's leading passer threw four touchdowns on Sunday, and the San Diego Chargers earned their first road win of the season in beating the Houston Texans 29-23.

Chargers-texans

The Chargers (4-5) were missing tight end Antonio Gates (torn plantar fascia) and wide receiver Malcom Floyd (hamstring) to injuries. They're also awaiting the return of Vincent Jackson, who signed his contract tender on Oct. 29 and has one game left on a team-imposed suspension.

Rivers didn't miss any of them on Sunday, using eight different receivers in completing 17 of 23 passes for 295 yards. Rookie Seyi Ajirotutu and backup tight end Randy McMichael caught two touchdowns apiece.

"I usually don't get to throw Tutu a ton of balls, or Randy for that matter, because practice reps are so valuable," he said. "If something is up for tight ends, Gates usually takes it. The last week or two, I was able to throw those guys a lot more balls than I have in the past and it certainly paid off."

The Chargers (4-5) head into their bye week on their first two-game winning streak of the season.

Ajirotutu just moved up to the active roster on Oct. 23, when linebacker Kion Wilson went on injured reserve. The undrafted rookie out of Fresno State clutched the game ball in the locker room after catching four passes for 111 yards.

"I'm going to hold onto this for a while," he said. "I'll probably let it go after the bye week. I'm just glad I was able to get it. There was a lot of people that helped contribute to this win and I'm just glad I was able to get one."

Arian Foster rushed 27 times for 127 yards and two touchdowns for Houston (4-4), which has lost three of its past four home games.

"You've got to protect your home turf," Houston coach Gary Kubiak said. "Obviously, we haven't done that."

This time, Houston failed on two fourth down plays in the second half to blow a 23-14 lead.

McMichael's second TD catch cut the lead to 23-21 with 5:55 left in the third quarter, and the Chargers stuffed Foster on fourth-and-1 from the 17 early in the final quarter.

Rookie Kareem Jackson has taken much of the blame for the Texans' 32nd-ranked pass defense, but he intercepted Rivers' pass to Ajirotutu near midfield with about 12 minutes left.

Rivers atoned on the next possession, throwing over Jackson for a 28-yard touchdown pass to Ajirotutu with 5:23 left. Mike Tolbert jumped over the pile for a 2-point conversion to give San Diego a 29-23 lead.

Rivers said last week that the Texans' secondary was vulnerable to deep passes. When the Chargers tried big plays on Sunday, Rivers said they clicked as well as they did in practice.

"A couple of things came up just how we drew them up," he said.

Rivers has 2,944 yards passing this season.

"He can make any throw," San Diego coach Norv Turner said. "He understands what we're doing. He makes a lot of guys look like real good players, and we got some young guys that are going to be good players."

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The Texans had a chance for the go-ahead score in the final minutes, but the usually sure-handed Andre Johnson made a costly mistake.

On second down, Johnson couldn't handle Matt Schaub's pass, and the ball ricocheted off his knee and into the hands of safety Paul Oliver. Officials upheld the interception after a replay review, and Rivers kneeled down to run out the clock.

"No matter what happened during the game before that play, we still had a chance to win that game," Johnson said. "I thought I had it. My knee came up, the ball hit off my knee, and the guy picked it off."

The Chargers improved to 4-0 against the Texans after starting the game with the kind of special teams blunders that have hurt them all season.

Oliver caught the opening kickoff and inexplicably stepped out of bounds at the San Diego 4. Texans linebacker Stanford Keglar then deflected Mike Scifres' punt, and Houston recovered at the Chargers 8.

It was the fifth San Diego punt blocked or deflected this season, and Foster scored on the next snap.

Ajirotutu then sprinted past Jackson on a 55-yard touchdown pass from Rivers, the eighth reception covering more than 40 yards this season against Houston's secondary.

Notes: Rivers' other four-touchdown game came in a 41-24 win over Tampa Bay in December 2008. ... The Texans' defense faced a top-five offense for the fifth time this season. ... McMichael had the first two-touchdown game of his career. ... Foster scored multiple touchdowns for the fourth time this season.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Chargers TE Gates holding out hope that he'll play vs. Texans

Logic dictates that Antonio Gates finally will miss an NFL game for the first time when his San Diego Chargers meet the Houston Texans on Sunday.

The All-Pro tight end is listed as doubtful on the Chargers' injury report. No player with that designation has played in a game for San Diego this season.

But Gates isn't ready to rule himself out just yet.

"I know it sounds like a tape recorder," Gates told The San Diego Union-Tribune on Friday. "We just have to wait to see how I feel."

The Union-Tribune reported Saturday that Gates was "walking pretty good" as the Chargers prepared for their scheduled walkthrough.

Gates has never missed a game in eight NFL seasons, but injuries to his feet and ankle have put his status in doubt as the Chargers prepare for a key AFC game in Houston. Gates sprained the plantar fascia in his right foot during last weekend's 33-25 victory over the visiting Tennessee Titans. He previously had been playing through turf toe and a sprained ankle.

Gates' status was a game-time decision in Week 7 against the New England Patriots, but he eventually suited up and caught a touchdown pass. Last Sunday, he dominated the Titans, hauling in five passes for 123 yards and the go-ahead TD.

Gates leads the NFL with nine TD receptions this season. He has 40 catches for 663 yards, both team highs.

Gates was in so much pain Monday that a team trainer drove him on a cart to his car. He acknowleged that if he does play against the Texans, he won't know for sure until shortly before kickoff.

"Sunday morning may be an understatement this time," Gates told the Union-Tribune. "It might be an hour before the game now (although a decision must be made 90 minutes before kickoff). I know it's going to be tougher (to make a decision) than it was last week."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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No Clark, no Collie, no problem: Colts ready for Texans

INDIANAPOLIS -- Peyton Manning sees the Colts' injuries at wide receiver as merely another challenge to overcome.

Jacob Tamme heads into his second career start at tight end in place of Dallas Clark, and undrafted free agent Blair White is expected to see more playing time while subbing for Austin Collie when the Colts host the Houston Texans on Monday night.

Clark has been lost for the season with a wrist injury, and Collie will miss the game after undergoing surgery on his right thumb.

Manning expressed confidence Thursday when asked about his depleted group of pass-catchers.

"I really look forward to seeing where we are in this game," the quarterback said. "We'll get better each game with some of the new guys that are going to be playing in different spots. It's an exciting opportunity for these guys."

Wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez is expected to be available after missing four of the past five games with a sprained right ankle, but running back Joseph Addai is considered day to day with a nerve injury in his left shoulder and didn't practice Thursday. Wide receiver Pierre Garcon sat out with a hamstring injury, and the team's top wideout, Reggie Wayne, was limited with a hamstring injury.

At one point, Manning removed "injuries" from his vocabulary.

"It's not something that ... you can just keep drowning yourself with that word," he said. "We have to move on with the guys that are playing."

Even through all the injuries this season, Manning, a four-time MVP, has been dominant. He leads the NFL with a 103.4 passer rating and is tied for third with 13 touchdown passes.

"That one weapon that's going to take all them snaps is pretty good," Texans coach Gary Kubiak said.

Dallas Clark doesn't receive as much publicity as some of his teammates, but the Colts will have a difficult time replacing what he brought to the offense, Bucky Brooks writes. More ...

Center Jeff Saturday said the team takes great pride in its depth.

"It's something that we've built ourselves on here," he said. "Tamme's going to have to step in and do well, Gonzo's going to have to come back and be what he can be. Blair White, anybody. Next guy up has got to step up and meet the challenge. I've got faith in those guys."

There's no time to ease the youngsters into the lineup. The Colts are 0-2 in the AFC South and would have difficulty winning the division with another loss. The Texans and the Colts, both 4-2, are a half-game behind the Tennessee Titans for the division lead.

The Colts acknowledge that losing Clark affects their game plan. Clark's speed and pass-catching skills often have created mismatches and forced defenses to play with additional defensive backs.

"He certainly created some opportunities for us," Colts coach Jim Caldwell said. "Anytime you see a guy in his position catch 100 balls (last year), obviously, he's an integral part of what we do. He's been able to force teams to adjust what they want to do from a defensive standpoint in terms of personnel. Losing Dallas certainly is a bit of a blow to us."

Tamme, a special-teams standout who has six catches in his career and none this season, said his preparation has been similar to other weeks.

"Obviously, there's a few more reps, but mentally, no different," he said. "I think I'm prepared pretty good. Dallas does a good job of getting all of us prepared to play. I've been prepared to play every week. I'll prepare the same way."

White has made six catches for 66 yards this season. He was called up from the practice squad in Week 3 and caught three passes for 27 yards and one touchdown in a win over the Denver Broncos.

Garcon said the Colts expect anyone who plays to produce.

"We're not really making an adjustment based on the people that we're missing, we're making an adjustment on the defense that we're playing against," he said. "It's real simple. Just be where you're supposed to be at the time you're supposed to be there -- and make the plays."

Saturday knows the Texans don't feel sorry for the Colts.

"Obviously, losing those guys hurts, but you've got to continue to find ways to win," he said. "They ain't calling any games off."

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Colts will sign free agent Kapinos to punt vs. Texans, agent says

The Colts will sign free-agent punter Jeremy Kapinos on Monday, agent Rob Roche told The Indianapolis Star.

Kapinos' signing comes on the heels of the team's one-game suspension of starting punter Pat McAfee.

McAfee was arrested for public intoxication on Oct. 20. Police said McAfee took a pre-dawn swim in a city canal and told them, "I am drunk," as he tried to explain why he was sopping wet in the Broad Ripple neighborhood, a trendy area known for its nightlife.

Kapinos, in his fourth NFL season out of Penn State, spent time with the New York Jets in 2007 and the Green Bay Packers from 2008 to 2009. He was the Packers' starter last season, averaging 43.8 yards on 66 punts.

The Colts (4-2), coming off their bye week, are preparing for their AFC South rematch with the Houston Texans (4-2) at Lucas Oil Stadium on Monday night. The Texans won the first meeting, 34-24, in the Sept. 12 season opener in Houston.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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With Ryans out for season, Texans move LB Cushing to middle

HOUSTON -- The Texans are turning to Brian Cushing to solve their crisis at middle linebacker.

Coach Gary Kubiak said Monday that Cushing will take over the position for DeMeco Ryans, who's out for the season after rupturing his left Achilles tendon in the Texans' 35-31 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Oct. 17. Cushing has started at outside linebacker since the Texans drafted him last year.

"We thought that was the best thing for our team," Kubiak said of moving Cushing to the middle. "We want him to lead the defense, take over the defense. That's where we're going."

The Texans had a bye last week, giving Kubiak time to consider options for replacing Ryans, who has played in two Pro Bowls. Kubiak felt most confident moving Cushing to the middle, even though he has started in just two games this season after serving a four-game suspension for violating the NFL's policy on banned substances.

The Texans (4-2) play at AFC South rival Indianapolis (4-2) on Monday night.

"I'm just doing what they want me to do," Cushing said. "I'm excited about the new opportunity. With DeMeco down, somebody had to step up. Coach asked me, and I'm more than willing to do it."

Cushing was the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year last season after making 133 tackles, including four sacks, and intercepting four passes. He was a first-round draft pick out of USC, where he played mostly outside linebacker, but he practiced at the middle spot behind starter Rey Maualuga, who's now a Cincinnati Bengal.

"I've just got to lock in a little bit more," Cushing said. "I'm going to have to be the quarterback of the defense, and I'm fine doing that."

When Ryans was hurt against the Chiefs, Zac Diles moved from the weak side to play the middle, and second-year pro David Nixon was pressed into action to fill Diles' spot. The Texans waived Nixon last week, and Kubiak said Monday that he wasn't comfortable with Diles playing in the middle.

Three other linebackers -- Kevin Bentley, Xavier Adibi and Darryl Sharpton -- were inactive for the Chiefs' game with injuries. Bentley (knee) and Sharpton (ankle) were two candidates to replace Ryans, and both practiced Monday.

Bentley has backed up Ryans for three years and was surprised by Kubiak's decision. Bentley still will have a starting role, taking over Cushing's position and backing him up at middle linebacker.

"I feel like I'm a leader, and I can lead from anywhere on the field," Bentley said. "I'm not worried about being disappointed. What I am worried about is how I'm going to step up and play and make sure I do my job to the best of my ability."

Ryans underwent surgery Friday, and Cushing said he has talked to his injured teammate about the specifics of playing middle linebacker. Cushing said there's not much difference between the middle spot and the outside position, but Bentley laughed at that notion.

"There's a lot more thinking, when now you're the guy getting everybody lined up," Bentley said. "You're responsible for all 11, not just yourself. You've got 10 other guys -- you've got to make sure they're lined up, you're lined up and then make plays."

Cushing believes he's ready. He put himself through rigorous physical training during his four-game suspension to keep himself in football shape, then used the bye week to brush up on the Texans' playbook.

"I think he can jump right in and get it done," defensive end Antonio Smith said. "I've got confidence that he can handle it. You see what he can do on the field, and the mike linebacker, for his type of motor and energy and (ability) running sideline-to-sideline, it's kind of like the best position for him to play."

Notes: The Texans signed free-agent LB Stanford Keglar and DT Damione Lewis. Houston also moved rookie DT Malcolm Sheppard from the practice squad to the regular roster and signed DE Tim Jamison to the practice squad. The Texans waived former University of Texas NT Frank Okam. ... Adibi sat out Monday's workout. Kubiak hopes Adibi will return to practice Thursday.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Packers look at linebackers; Texans try out backs, receivers

Suddenly needing linebacker help, the Green Bay Packers tried out five players at the position Tuesday, league sources told NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora.

Former Dallas Cowboys linebacker Steve Octavien headed a group that also featured Dominic Douglas, Cardia Jackson, Mike Rivera, Lee Robinson.

One or more of those players could be signed as the Packers weigh their options. Starting linebacker Nick Barnett has a wrist injury that needs surgery and could sideline him for the remainder of the season, and backup Brandon Chillar missed last Sunday's loss to the Washington Redskins because of a shoulder ailment.

Criticized in some circles for not acquiring Marshawn Lynch, whom the Buffalo Bills dealt to the Seattle Seahawks last week, the Packers tried out veteran running back Aaron Stecker on Tuesday. Brandon Jackson has been the regular starter for Green Bay after the team lost Ryan Grant to a season-ending ankle injury in the opener last month.

Stecker has 1,526 yards rushing and 1,175 yards receiving in 10 seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2000-03), New Orleans Saints (2004-08) and Atlanta Falcons (2009). He also has scored 12 total touchdowns.

Other notable tryouts Tuesday, according to the sources:

» The Houston Texans looked at quarterbacks Colt Brennan and Jarrett Brown, possibly to upgrade their backup situation (Dan Orlovsky and Matt Leinart are behind starter Matt Schaub). The team also brought in four experienced wide receivers -- Reggie Brown, Derek Hagan, Dexter Jackson, Demetrius Williams -- and might need help in case Jacoby Jones misses another game because of a calf injury.

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» The New York Giants brought in five veterans who are still looking for work: running backs Deon Anderson and Justin Fargas, tight end Derek Schouman and guards Manny Ramirez and Donald Thomas. Linebacker Chris McCoy and defensive end Ross Weaver also tried out for the team.

» The Philadelphia Eagles took another look at wide receiver Kelley Washington, whom they cut last month before the season opener. Washington had career highs in receptions (34) and yards (431) for the Baltimore Ravens last season, and he scored two touchdowns.

» The Tennessee Titans worked out former Eagles safeties Quintin Demps and Macho Harris, as well as ex-New Orleans Saints defensive end Bobby McCray and former Cleveland Browns linebacker David Veikune.

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Nicks scores twice, Giants hold Texans to franchise-low 24 rush yards in win

HOUSTON -- The New York Giants found some offense to go with that powerful defensive front.

Eli Manning threw two of his three touchdown passes to Hakeem Nicks and the Giants held Houston to a franchise-low 24 yards rushing in a 34-10 win over the Texans on Sunday.

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Nicks finished with career highs of 12 catches and 130 yards, another big day for a receiver against the Texans' porous secondary. Manning went 27 of 42 for 297 yards passing, and threw his third TD pass to Steve Smith in the fourth quarter.

But Nicks was Manning's true go-to receiver early on Sunday, catching seven passes for 97 yards in the first half.

"You never know who's going to have the hot day," Manning said. "I don't have favorites and I don't pick guys out. I'm reading coverages and throwing to the open guy. So they know that."

Osi Umenyiora sacked Texans quarterback Matt Schaub twice and also forced a fumble, while the Giants (3-2) held NFL rushing leader Arian Foster to 25 yards on 11 carries.

Linebacker Brian Cushing made four solo tackles in his season debut for Houston (3-2). He was suspended the first four games for violating the NFL's policy on banned substances.

His much-anticipated return was quickly forgotten as the Giants rolled to a 21-0 lead in the first 17 minutes. The Texans had no choice but to start throwing, and that played right into the hands of the Giants' pass rush, which generated 10 sacks against Chicago last week.

"Our offense did a good job of getting off to that early lead and scoring points so they couldn't run the ball," Umenyiora said. "We just played off of each other."

Manning faced little pressure in the first half and completed 15 of 22 passes for 175 yards, while Nicks dominated Houston cornerbacks Kareem Jackson and Brice McCain. The Texans were giving up 338 yards passing per game and their young cornerbacks had taken most of the blame.

Manning noticed this week while studying the Texans that their safeties often creep forward on play-action fakes, leaving gaps down the field. He told his receivers to watch for that, and Nicks was apparently paying attention.

"It's fun when those things work," Manning said. "It's not really always what the coach had drawn up and what the coach wants, but you kind of do some things on your own."

The Giants' defense took care of the rest, holding Houston's top-ranked rushing offense to 8 yards. The Texans came in averaging 172 yards rushing per game.

New York already led 7-0 on Nicks' first touchdown catch when Corey Webster intercepted Schaub's pass to Andre Johnson near midfield in the first quarter. Manning promptly threw a 27-yard pass to Nicks to set up Brandon Jacobs' 1-yard TD run.

The Texans ran four plays for negative yards and mustered only two first downs in the first quarter. At one point, three Giants knocked down Schaub in the end zone after another incompletion, prompting boos from the sellout crowd.

"We just got our butt kicked and played undisciplined," Houston coach Gary Kubiak said. "We never really even got anything going running the ball."

The Giants led 24-3 at the break, and the home crowd booed the Texans as they trotted off the field. Houston had only 74 total yards at halftime.

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Schaub threw a 48-yard pass to Johnson on Houston's second play of the third quarter, but Umenyiora sacked Schaub and knocked the ball loose on the next snap, and Justin Tuck recovered.

Jackson intercepted Manning later in the third quarter and returned it to the Giants' 17. Johnson caught a pass at the 1, and former Giants running back Derrick Ward scored on the next play. But Manning started the Giants' next series with three straight completions to Nicks, and Tynes kicked a 42-yard field goal with 1:22 left in the third quarter.

Smith beat Jackson on a 45-yard gain to the Texans' 28 in the fourth quarter, then outjumped second-year cornerback Glover Quin for New York's last touchdown with 4:50 left in the game.

Notes: The Texans' previous low rushing total was 25, set against the New York Jets in 2006. ... LB Keith Bulluck (toe) and C Shaun O'Hara (Achilles' and ankle) were among eight inactive players for the Giants. Adam Koets, limited in practice this week with a knee sprain, started in O'Hara's place. ... Houston WR/PR Jacoby Jones sat out with a calf injury. WR David Anderson fielded punts. ... Texans RG Mike Brisiel left in the second quarter with a sprained knee.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Texans sign ex-Bears DE Anderson, waive DE Denney

HOUSTON -- The Texans signed defensive end Mark Anderson and waived defensive end Ryan Denney on Thursday.

Terms of the deal with Anderson weren't disclosed.

Anderson was cut by the Chicago Bears on Tuesday. The 6-foot-4, 255-pound lineman had 12 sacks as a rookie in 2006, helping the Bears reach the Super Bowl. But he posted just nine sacks over the next three seasons and has none this year.

The Texans signed Denney as a free agent after backup defensive end Connor Barwin broke his ankle during the season opener. Denney was inactive for last Sunday's game against the Oakland Raiders.

Houston has been looking for a defensive end to complement All-Pro Mario Williams, who has five of the team's nine sacks this season.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Texans' Johnson hopes to shake ankle injury, play vs. Giants

Andre Johnson practiced Thursday with his ailing right ankle in a brace and said he expects to play in the Houston Texans' game this weekend against the New York Giants.

Texans coach Gary Kubiak said the status of Johnson, who sat out last weekend's victory over the Oakland Raiders, will be a "game-time" decision, but the four-time Pro Bowl receiver said he was anxious to be back on the field.

"I plan on playing, but at the same time, if it was up to me, I would have tried to play last Sunday," Johnson said after Thursday's practice. "Coach Kubiak is in charge of all of that. I'm not sure if they'll have me work out or not before the game. ... I just plan on playing. I'll find out more as the week goes on."

Johnson injured the ankle Sept. 19 during a 30-27 road victory over the Washington Redskins and aggravated it one week later in a 27-13 home loss to the Dallas Cowboys. He missed two practices last week and was listed by Kubiak as a game-time decision, but the receiver didn't play.

"It feels better than it felt a week ago," said Johnson, who was limited in Thursday's practice. "At this point last week, I wasn't able to practice, so me being able to go out there running around ... and I also ran yesterday. It feels better. I mean, of course, it's not 100 percent, but I feel I'm able to go out there and play.

"It's a little soreness here and there at times, but at the same time, I mean, it's not nothing where it's, like, killing me."

Jacoby Jones, who replaced Johnson in the lineup against Oakland, left that game with a strained calf muscle and hasn't practiced this week. Kubiak said Jones' status also is a game-time decision.

Johnson's ability to perform at or near his capabilities will play a role in the decision on whether or not he plays, Kubiak said.

"(There's) going to be a risk whenever he comes back, regardless," the coach said. "We would never put a guy out there that we didn't think could protect himself and play at a level that we think you need to play at. This week will be no different from last week from that standpoint, but he's way ahead of where he was last week at this point."

Kubiak said Johnson "took what we expected for him today. He was limited for practice, but he did practice, and (we'll) see how he comes out of it. It was very encouraging as we work toward the weekend."

Johnson wore a brace Thursday to keep his ankle stable and was pleased with the results.

"I've never played in a brace before," he said. "Today is the first time cutting and stuff in it. That was kind of new for me. I was just trying to get adjusted to that. They're making so more adjustments to it ... trying to make it as comfortable as possible for me. I'll go out there tomorrow and do some more stuff."

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Texans LB Cushing practices for first time since suspension

HOUSTON -- Brian Cushing insists he hasn't lost a step. The Texans will find out soon enough.

The linebacker returned to practice Wednesday for the first time since his four-game drug suspension, saying he's eager to play again after feeling "helpless" at times watching his teammates on the field.

Coach Gary Kubiak said Cushing will play for the Texans (3-1) against the New York Giants (2-2) on Sunday.

Cushing said he'll use the rest of the week to sharpen his football techniques and relearn Houston's defensive calls and schemes.

"I'm back," Cushing said. "It's going to be the same old (No.) 56 running around. It's what I do. I take a lot of pride in playing football, and I want to be the best at it. Hopefully, I cannot skip a beat, come in Week 5 and be the player I'd be in Week 1."

Kubiak said he's concerned that Cushing is about 250 real-game snaps behind the Texans' other defensive starters. But Cushing has proven before that he can catch up in a hurry after missing practice time. He sat out every preseason game last year, then led the team in tackles in its first four regular-season games.

"He's always handled himself well with the team, he's always been very accountable in his preparation and his work," Kubiak said. "It's not like you have a player who we're fighting to get in here and work and take care of his business. This guy is working all the time, so that's not a problem."

Cushing wasn't shy about sharing what he did in his month away from the team.

Videos posted on YouTube in recent weeks show Cushing working out in a New Jersey gym, with hard-rock music playing in the background. Cushing turns over a giant tire, bench-presses a 347-pound barbell, dead-lifts weights attached to heavy chains and pushes a weighted sled.

Cushing said he worked out about 3 to 4 hours per day during his suspension, including physical therapy and studying film of Texans' games. He took Sundays off and decided not to watch the live broadcasts of Houston's games after the opening victory over the Indianapolis Colts.

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"I couldn't really watch the games anymore, just from the fact of not being able to be out there and not being able to help the team," he said. "It's kind of a helpless feeling. I played golf and tried to get my mind off it. But I was on my cell phone every single second, checking the score updates."

Cushing was suspended in May after testing positive for HCG, a drug on the league's list of banned substance. Cushing says he never took the drug, which can be used to restart testosterone production after a steroid cycle, and has no idea how it got into his body.

Cushing said during training camp that he has a unique medical condition -- "overtrained athlete syndrome" -- that led to the positive test. Cushing said the syndrome can trigger hormonal spikes after breaks in training. The NFL denied an appeal based on the argument.

Cushing wouldn't address questions about his medical condition Wednesday, other than to say he was relieved to finally have the suspension behind him.

"It's peace of mind," Cushing said. "The last two weeks, it was getting to me a little bit. I was a little on edge. Now I'm back to doing what I do, and it's a really mind-clearing kind of feeling. Now, I'm home."

Cushing said he has talked to Texans left tackle Duane Brown, who received a four-game suspension Sept. 21 for also violating the NFL's banned-substance policy. Brown is eligible to return for the Texans' Nov. 1 game at Indianapolis.

"I just reached out to him and said if he had any questions, let me know," Cushing said. "I know what he's going through. I gave him some positive encouragement, told him to keep his head up and time will pass, and he'll be back on the field again."

Cushing was Houston's first-round draft pick in 2009. He had 133 tackles, four sacks and four interceptions last season to win The Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year award. He retained the honor after a revote following his suspension.

Cushing is motivated now to show skeptics that his performance level hasn't tailed off.

"I feel like I have something to prove every time I step on the field," he said. "I'm sure some people will be looking for drop-offs and stuff like that, but nothing like that is going to happen. Come Sunday, I'll be right back out there again, and I'm looking forward to it."

The Texans need Cushing to return to form as soon as possible. They rank last in total defense (408 yards per game) and have given up several big pass plays. Houston also has lacked a consistent pass rusher other than defensive end Mario Williams, who has five of the team's nine sacks.

"Any time you have a Pro Bowl player come back and play for your team, it helps out a lot," defensive tackle Amobi Okoye said of Cushing. "We're looking forward to him getting out on the field and showing us all the things he did last year, and even more. I know he has a lot more in the tank."

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Foster's response to benching leads to Texans win

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Arian Foster returned from an early game benching to score on a 74-yard run and an 10-yard catch in the second half to lead the Houston Texans to a 31-24 victory over the Oakland Raiders on Sunday.

Foster, a former practice squad player, has emerged as one of the biggest surprises of the NFL so far this season. Despite entering the game as the league's leading rusher, Foster was held out until midway through the second quarter in what the Texans (3-1) said was a "coach's decision."

Foster took over the game in the second half. On the second play from scrimmage, he burst through a big hole and raced to the 74-yard score, breaking a tackle by Michael Huff on the way to the end zone.

Then on the first play of the fourth quarter, Foster caught a short pass from Matt Schaub for the score that gave Houston a 31-14 lead. Troy Nolan's second interception iced the game after the Raiders (1-3) had cut the lead to seven.

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Texans bench Foster for first quarter in 'coach's decision'

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Arian Foster, the NFL's leading rusher, didn't start for the Houston Texans in Sunday's game against the Oakland Raiders.

The Texans said Foster's absence was a "coach's decision."

Foster didn't play in the first quarter and was on the bench for the first drive of the second quarter. He entered the game with just under seven minutes remaining in the second quarter.

Backups Steve Slaton and Derrick Ward got off to a good start. Ward scored on a 33-yard touchdown run on Houston's opening drive, and Slaton had 47 yards from scrimmage in the first quarter.

Foster leads the NFL with 406 rushing yards through four games.

Houston played without leading wide receiver Andre Johnson, who was inactive with a sprained right ankle.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Texans To Look At Ex-Chief Running Back Johnson

"The Texans' running game is so bad they are interested in signing former Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson.

The Texans, who are 5-4 and averaging only 90.8 yards rushing, are one of several teams showing interest in Johnson, who was placed on waivers Monday.

"We're going to do our homework on him just like we did our homework on Edgerrin James last week," coach Gary Kubiak said. "Obviously, I think when a name like that (Johnson) comes on the free-agent market like today, we'll take a look at him just like any other player.

"He's been a good player in this league, and I'm sure he'll get a lot of interest from a lot of people."

Johnson, who turns 30 on Nov. 16, will be an unrestricted free agent if he clears waivers today as expected. The Chiefs released him on the day he returned from a two-week suspension for conduct detrimental to the team.

Johnson, who was dogged by off-the-field issues at Kansas City, was suspended for making anti-gay remarks on his Twitter account and for repeating them to reporters who cover the Chiefs. He also was critical of coach Todd Haley on his Twitter account.

The NFL told the Kansas City Star on Monday that Johnson doesn't face a suspension from the league because the Chiefs suspended him for two games, costing him about $330,000, according to the newspaper."

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Andre Johnson Day-to-day with Lung Contusion

"The Texans say they expect receiver Andre Johnson to be ready to play against Buffalo on Sunday, but after revising their postgame evaluation from chest contusion to lung contusion Monday, the truth is no one knows.

Coach Gary Kubiak doesn't know if Johnson, who has 38 catches for 634 yards and four touchdowns, will be able to practice this week when the Texans prepare for the game against the Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

Johnson, 28, doesn't have to practice to be able to play.

"He's going to be day-to-day as we go into this week," Kubiak said Monday. "They'll do some tests on him each day as we go through this week, but I think we're fortunate, and, hopefully, he'll be ready to go against Buffalo. They (doctors) feel good about it (and), it looks like he's going to be fine."

Johnson was initially injured on the first of his two catches in Sunday's 24-21 win over San Francisco that elevated the Texans' record to 4-3. It was an 18-yard gain on the first series of the second quarter. "

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