HOUSTON -- Texans cornerback Jacques Reeves should be back, and safety Eugene Wilson could play. But will their return and an extra week of practice for Dunta Robinson improve a Houston Texans secondary that allowed 272 passing yards by a rookie quarterback in a 24-7 loss to the New York Jets last week?
Reeves has been out since early in training camp with a broken leg. He said having all the starters back for Sunday's game at Tennessee would be a boost to a team that's trying to avoid an 0-2 start.
Reeves and Wilson both practiced Wednesday, and Texans coach Gary Kubiak said he'll decide later in the week if the two are ready to play. Wilson hasn't played since injuring his knee on a crackback block by Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre on Aug. 31.
Kubiak said having everyone back would help.
"Eugene's a big part of this team," Kubiak said. "He's played very well for us. To go into Week 1 without him made it tough with just three safeties. Love to have him back. Love to get Jacques back."
Kubiak is tempering his desire to have them return with making sure he doesn't put the two back on the field before they're ready, only to have them miss more time.
"We've got to make sure we get them back the right way," Kubiak said. "We just can't get them back and them not be 100 percent and throw them out there because we do have a long way to go (in the season). So we've got to be smart with them."
Reeves was the only Houston defensive back to start every game last season and he finished with 50 tackles and a career-high four interceptions. He said his leg felt fine when he returned to practice last week, but that he needed more time to build his endurance after sitting out for more than a month.
Reeves has doubled the amount of work he can do in practice before tiring and he's ready to play. Now he's just waiting for the coaches to OK his return.
"I'm looking forward to playing, period," Reeves said. "I'm ready to get back on the field, but with Dunta back and if we can get Eugene back that will be great."
Robinson started against the Jets despite missing all of training camp in a contract holdout. Kubiak is looking forward to seeing how Robinson will perform with more than a week of practice behind him.
"He was obviously a little rusty, but he played very hard," Kubiak said.
"We're really focusing this week on just trying to come out and not show what we showed last week, especially with the third downs," he said. "That was pretty bad."
Also Wednesday, Texans owner Bob McNair addressed the "pay me Rick" shoes that Robinson wore Sunday as a message to general manager Rick Smith. Robinson remains miffed about no long-term contract with the team despite signing his franchise tender more than a week ago. He apologized for the shoes Monday.
McNair said the team doesn't need any distractions.
"Anybody's that's being a distraction is not helping our team," McNair said when asked about Robinson. "That's the message and that's what the coaches have told them and that's what Rick has told them. It's time to be a professional and go out and do your job."
Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press
