Arian Foster and Andre Johnson will not play in first preseason game

Two of the Houston Texans top players will not participate in the team’s’ first preseason game this Saturday against the Arizona Cardinals.

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According to Houston Texans head coach Bill O’Brien, both Arian Foster and Andre Johnson will not play in the team’s preseason opener due to nagging injury concerns.

Both Foster and Johnson have missed several practices during the team’s training camp due to injuries. Both Johnson and Foster have been dealing with the same injury, a strained hamstring, among other things.

While Bill O’Brien has downplayed the injuries, there is no question that both men are losing valuable reps with their teammates during training camp. For Johnson, he is missing the opportunity to get in sync with new quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick.

When both players are healthy, they are among the best in the entire NFL. The issue is, however, that both men have had difficulty staying healthy over the last several years.

Last year Foster’s season was cut short due to a back injury, and he has barely got on the practice field this offseason. If Foster is a go for week 1 of the regular season, he could be rusty to start.

As for Johnson, he has played in all 16 games in the last two seasons, but this offseason has not gone well thus far for him in the health department. In the end, him sitting out the first preseason game is likely just a precaution, and he should be a go for week 1.