Houston Texans coach Gary Kubiaksaid Friday that wide receiver Andre Johnson will not play Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals, an unfortunate blow for an offense already playing with third-string quarterback T.J. Yates.
Johnson will miss the game because of a strained left hamstring that has kept him out of practice all week. Johnson suffered the injury in the third quarter of last week's 17-10 win over the Atlanta Falcons when he came up lame without being hit.
"It's very disappointing," Johnson said. "You work your butt off to get back after missing six games and then to have something like this to happen again is very frustrating. But at the same time, the team's in a great position. I'm just trying to do everything I can to get back, so that I can get back out on the field and play."
Johnson couldn't say if he'd be ready to play in Houston's next game on Dec. 18 against Carolina. He worked out in a pool on Thursday and ran on a treadmill Friday.
"I knew I wouldn't be able to play this week, so that's pretty much it," he said. "You definitely would like to be a part of it, be out there playing, but things happen. There's a reason why these things happen, and that's just the way I look at it. Something positive will come from it."
This will be Johnson's seventh game missed this season, as he sat out six earlier with a right hamstring injury. Wide receiver Kevin Walter (illness) missed practice Friday, which has Kubiak "a little bit concerned" about his status for Sunday.
Meanwhile, linebacker Brian Cushing (ribs/knee) will play after missing practice on Thursday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
