Kubiak: Schaub (knee) will start if no setbacks
Matt Schaub of the Houston Texans throws the ball during the game against the New York Giants at Reliant Stadium in Houston. (Oct. 10, 2010) Credit: Getty
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - Texans quarterback Matt Schaub returned to practice Thursday, two days after he was hospitalized because of a knee problem.
Schaub was hospitalized Tuesday night and missed practice Wednesday because of inflammation in the bursa sacs in his right knee.
"He's feeling a lot better," Texans coach Gary Kubiak told Houston-area reporters. "We're heading in the right direction."
Kubiak said Schaub will start Sunday against the Jets "unless there are setbacks." Dan Orlovsky is the backup and Matt Leinart is the third quarterback.
"Matt [Schaub] can look at a game plan and go play," Kubiak said. "But against [the Jets], you want to see as much as you can because of how aggressive they are coming after the quarterback. You could practice for the next year and not cover everything they do on defense."
Jets coach Rex Ryan said he expects Schaub to start. "If he doesn't,'' he said, "that's fine with us."
Road trip
Kicker Nick Folk and punter Steve Weatherford - accompanied by assistant special teams coach Ben Kotwica - took a road trip to New Meadowlands Stadium to get better suited with the wind patterns there.
"They said it was nothing we hadn't seen or expected," special teams coach Mike Westhoff said. "They're trying to get a little bit of a feel for it."
As for Folk's three missed field goals in Cleveland last Sunday, Westhoff gave him a slight pass, saying the field was "a joke . . . a disgrace." Folk missed from 24, 47 and 48 yards.
"Am I making an excuse? Absolutely not," Westhoff said. "We play under these conditions. You have to be able to fight through it."
Trainer's room
WR Jerricho Cotchery (groin) did some light jogging and still feels some pain. Ryan indicated Patrick Turner would be activated if Cotchery can't play . . . QB Mark Sanchez (calf) practiced fully . . . DB Dwight Lowery (concussion) is out.Because of that and other injuries, starters such as Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie and Bart Scott will be sprinkled into the special teams rotation.
