HOUSTON -- Injured Texans quarterback Matt Schaub was back at practice on Thanksgiving, wearing a protective boot on his right foot as he kept a close eye on his replacement, Matt Leinart.
Schaub sustained a Lisfranc injury in Houston's 37-9 win over Tampa Bay on Nov. 13, and had to give up hope on returning this season after meeting with foot specialist Dr. Robert Anderson in Charlotte on Wednesday.
Houston placed Schaub on injured reserve, and Leinart will make his first start at Jacksonville on Sunday.
Schaub is scheduled to have surgery in Charlotte next Wednesday. Doctors have assured him his injury is not career-threatening and isn't likely to occur again when he returns to action.
"Once I talked to everyone, there really wasn't an option out there, other than to get it fixed for the long term," Schaub said. "It's pretty positive as far as after the surgery, getting the rehab done and being able to come back, play and be fine."
Coach Gary Kubiak said Schaub will travel with the team this weekend and be available to support Leinart, rookie T.J. Yates and third-stringer Kellen Clemens, who signed with Houston on Wednesday.
"He needs to stay very much involved," Kubiak said. "I think there's a way he can help this team, so we're going to give him a chance to do that. It's just tough to see him standing back there."
But Kubiak isn't sure how much Schaub will be able to help after his surgery. Schaub said he faces a long recovery, starting with 6-8 weeks of non-weight-bearing activity.
"It's not a quick turnaround, as far as rehabilitation," Schaub said. "It's going to be an offseason getting ready and getting right for training camp."
Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press
