ILB Darryl Sharpton expects to practice next week

Inside linebacker Darryl Sharpton has a lot bottled up at this point.

This week, for the first time all season, he’s started hitting bags at practice, still working on his own while on the physically unable to perform list. The Texans have said he is “very, very close,” and Sharpton thinks he’ll  be off PUP next week.

“It felt good just to get some of those animalistic instincts I’ve been harnessing back all this time on the shelf, just to let it go, and there’s a lot more to let go,” Sharpton said. “So I look forward to letting it go.”

Sharpton tore his quadriceps muscle all the way from his knee last October. He returned to practice for training camp when his injury was still not 100 percent healed. Sharpton said his health was “good enough to play,” but when he returned, he suffered a setback with an injury to his hip. That landed Sharpton on PUP.

“Now I feel a lot better overall,” he said. “I feel pretty good about everything. It’s all about going out there and playing at this opint because nothing I can do in the training room, the weight room can simulate actually playing. I’m just really excited about getting back out there. Can’t wait to put helmet and shoulder pads back on.”

Sharpton might have been starting anyway for the Texans, but with inside linebacker Brian Cushing out for the season, his presence could be even more impactful.

“Even if Cush was still here, I still think I can help the team with what I can bring to the table,” Sharpton said. “I just can’t wait to put what I’m talking about on display.”


(blog.chron.com)