Texans quarterback Matt Schaub and wide receiver Andre Johnson both missed OTAs because of injuries in 2012. They’re both fully healthy in 2013.

The Texans’ defense is currently without Brian Cushing and Ed Reed, but the only 2012 starter on offense missing OTAs due to injury is right tackle Derek Newton.

“It’s great to have everyone healthy,” Johnson said after practice on Monday. “I couldn’t tell you the last time I did OTAs, so I’m happy just to be back out here with my teammates and everything is feeling good.”

Johnson missed OTAs last offseason after having arthroscopic knee surgery. He missed nine games with hamstring injuries in 2011 and hyper-extended his knee in between. He went on to start all 16 games in 2012 and, at the age of 31, led the AFC with a career high with 1,598 receiving yards.

Schaub missed last year’s OTAs while recovering from a season-ending 2011 Lisfranc injury. He started every game in 2012 and led the Texans to a 12-4 record and the second round of the playoffs. But the Texans finished 2-4, a span in which Schaub threw three touchdowns and five interceptions.


(houstontexans.com)

The talent the Miami Hurricanes produced in their glory days is still unsurpassed.

This year, Alabama could inch closer to those teams.

Miami is the only college football program that has ever had at least four first-round draft picks in four consecutive years. Alabama has had four first-round picks the past two seasons. If they do it again this year, they’ll join the Canes as the only two college football programs ever to have at least four first-rounders in three straight years.

Alabama had defensive tackle Marcell Dareus, receiver Julio Jones, offensive tackle James Carpenter and running back Mark Ingram in 2011, then running back Trent Richardson, defensive back Mark Barron, defensive back Dre Kirkpatrick and linebacker Dont’a Hightower in 2012.

Miami did it from 2001 through 2004. Texans safety Ed Reed was part of that streak as the 24th overall selection in 2002 as was Andre Johnson, whom the Texans took third overall in 2003.

There’s a decent chance of this happening. Alabama cornerback Dee Milliner, guard Chance Warmack and offensie tackle D.J. Fluker are expected to be first-round picks. Alabama running back Eddie Lacy is the best running back in the draft, and in the past half century at least one running back has gone in every first round, though there’s always the chance that streak breaks.

UPDATED: Alabama only had THREE first round draft picks last night.


(chron.com)

Andre Johnson wants the Texans to draft a receiver.

They haven’t shied away from doing that at various points in recent drafts. What they haven’t found yet, though, is a player who has lightened Johnson’s load.

There isn’t an unquestionable star in the group of receivers available in this year’s draft, and even if there was, it would take some trading up to do it.

That doesn’t preclude the Texans from finding a solid compliment to Johnson in a player not exalted as a game-breaking receiver.

Baltimore found Torrey Smith in the second round of the 2011 draft. In fact, Smith was the second receiver to go in that round, after the wayward Titus Young. The Broncos took Eric Decker in the third round in 2010 and the Steelers got this guy named Mike Wallace in the third round in 2009. Pierre Garcon was a sixth-round pick for the Colts in 2008. None of those guys were studs entering the draft. All of them played important roles for the teams that drafted them.
Statistically, it’s easy to show why the Texans need this. ESPN’s AFC South blogger Paul Kuharsky collected these numbers from ESPN Stats and Info:

• The Texans were one of four NFL teams that targeted one receiver more than all the rest combined, along with the Lions, Chiefs and Bears. 
• Johnson was targeted on 58.1 percent of the Texans’ pass attempts to receivers, the highest rate in the league.
• Quarterback Matt Schaub’s completion percentage was 70.9 to Johnson with 31.6 attempts per interception. Meanwhile, his completion percentage to every other receiver on his roster was 56.5 with 21.6 attempts per interception.

At times last season, it seemed as if Schaub was keying too heavily on Johnson. Having a star receiver can have that effect to some extent, but that last bullet point shows that Schaub’s dependence on Johnson was totally justified. And for the sake of the Texans’ offense, that needs to change.


(blog.chron.com)

When we posted our Houston Texans draft needs today, we started at wide receiver. Andre Johnson agrees with that assessment.

Johnson told John McClain of the Houston Chronicle that he’s been lobbying the front office to use the Texans’ first-round pick, No. 27 overall, on a wide receiver.

“I’d like to have another [receiver],” Johnson said. “I’m all for it. I’ve asked for it for awhile. The more weapons we have, the better it’ll be for the team.”

Johnson, who will turn 32 in July, is getting old by wide receiver standards. But he’s not showing many signs of age and is coming off a season in which he had a career-high 1,598 yards. But Johnson might become even more effective if he had another threat to draw some of the coverage away from him.

Of the top receivers in this year’s draft, Tavon Austin of West Virginia will surely be gone before the Texans are on the clock, and Cordarrelle Patterson of Tennessee probably will be, too. That leaves Justin Hunter of Tennessee, Keenan Allen of Cal, DeAndre Hopkins of Clemson and Robert Woods of USC as receivers the Texans could draft in the first round.

Johnson would love to work with any of them.

“If we draft a receiver, I’m going to help him as much as I can,” Johnson said. “I’ll answer any questions he has because I want him to perform well.”
A rookie receiver performing well on the opposite side of the field could be a great asset to Johnson.


(profootballtalk.com)

There aren't many programs that can trot out a former Heisman Trophy winner to throw a touchdown to a future Pro Football Hall of Fame receiver during the spring game like Miami can.

Like Cal letting Marshawn Lynch score during the spring game, Miami had an alumni touchdown as well. Gino Torretta, the 1992 Heisman Trophy winner, put on a jersey and took a snap from former All-American center Brett Romberg, and threw deep to Houston Texans star receiver Andre Johnson, also wearing a Miami jersey.

It shouldn't be a surprise that the duo hooked up for the score, considering the defenders were probably told they'd never be allowed on campus again if they even thought about hitting Johnson. And Torretta looks like he can still throw the ball a bit more than 20 years after winning his Heisman (which should have gone to Marshall Faulk, but that's another story).

Miami always has former players come back around the current team, often working out in the offseason with them. It doesn't hurt that the school is located in Miami. Why wouldn't players want to come back? You can see the Miami players come off the sideline to congratulate Johnson on his easy touchdown, and the whole idea of former Hurricanes stars hanging around the program is a pretty fun thing for the current players.

This is actually a pretty cool trend of having famous alums come back for ceremonial spring game plays. Seeing as how it is fun and harmless, expect the NCAA to step in and stop it soon.


(sports.yahoo.com)

The Texans were booted from the divisional round of the postseason for the second straight January, ending a season that began with great promise, but ended with a whimper.

Matt Schaub was pummeled by criticism in the days that followed, which was more than a little unfair in retrospect. Schaub isn't an elite quarterback by any stretch, but he's capable of leading a deep playoff run given the right weapons.

The Texans have needs at other places, the right side of their offensive line serving as a particular concern. But this is a draft in which the Texans need to get serious about adding a wide receiver who can make an immediate impact while serving as a bridge to the future.

Andre Johnson is coming off a monster season in which he finished with 112 catches for 1,598 yards and four touchdowns. He'll also be 32 years old in July. We don't doubt Johnson has another season or two of high production in him (granted his legs cooperate), but the Texans already have waited too long to locate a player who effectively can complement Johnson and eventually replace him as the team's No. 1 option.

The Texans still might view DeVier Posey as a long-term answer, but his prospects for making an impact next season are dim after undergoing surgery to repair a torn Achilles tendon in January. The under-qualified Kevin Walter finally is out of the picture, giving Houston a clear need at the position.

Robert Woods (USC) and DeAndre Hopkins (Clemson) are two early-round options for the Texans, who pick 27th overall. Tavon Austin (West Virginia) was a potential first-round match until his stock went through the roof at the NFL Scouting Combine.

The Texans always could package some picks to move up. Given the need, it might be a gamble worth taking.


(nfl.com)

Back in December, Chad Johnson made an open plea to all 32 NFL teams asking for another chance to play professional football.

Now, former Miami high-school opponent Andre Johnson is trying to recruit the teamless wide receiver for a roster spot on the Houston Texans.

"I haven't set up any meetings. I could put a few words in, but that's not my call," Andre Johnson told Comcast SportsNet Houston. "I think he'll get another opportunity. I think he'll be very successful, get back to the Chad that we're used to seeing playing football."

A contrite Chad Johnson continues to express regret over the domestic battery arrest that led to his release from the Miami Dolphins last summer.

"I'd love to get a second chance to play the game that I love," Chad Johnson said via Comcast SportsNet Houston. "It was taken from me and I think I've learned my lesson and really, it's in God's hands."

Chad Johnson, predictably, is on board with the idea of joining the Texans. "If I could be that last piece," Johnson said, "especially with me being somewhat humble and being in a position where I have to prove myself again, which could be scary."

Chad Johnson concedes he's in "no position to be picky."

While the newfound humility is refreshing, it might not be enough to land him a job with the Texans. Now 35 years old, Chad Johnson no longer is an NFL-caliber starter and doesn't contribute on special teams.

NFL teams would be reluctant to burn a roster spot on him, even if Chad Johnson came with a squeaky-clean reputation and more disciplined routes.


(nfl.com)

Over the last few days, "Shutdown Corner" has reported on some of the base salary increases for the 2013 season. In the first report last Saturday, which was updated on Monday, the highest increase belong to Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy, whose performances during his first two seasons in the NFL added $1.75 million to his 2013 base salary.

Move over, Colt.
According to NFLPA records, Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson triggered a $3.3 million escalator in his contract and is now scheduled to earn $9.5 million in base salary in 2013. Johnson, who turns 32 in July, caught 112 passes for 1,598 yards – both numbers ranked in the Top 5 in the NFL – with four touchdowns in 2012 and was named to the Pro Bowl for the sixth time in his career.

In addition to Johnson, Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Clay Matthews will be on the receiving end of a hefty pay raise in 2013.

New Orleans Saints: Jimmy Graham will also get a significant raise from $630,000 to $1.323 million.


(sports.yahoo.com)

AIEA, Hawaii -- After the Pro Bowl on Sunday, Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson spoke about his experiences in the game at Aloha Stadium and in Hawaii for the week.

WR Andre Johnson (on what the experience was like for him overall) “It was great to be around the top guys in the game and just to hang out with them and learn about them football-wise. It was a great experience.”

(on the intensity of the game compared to other Pro Bowls) “It was definitely up there. A lot of guys were playing pretty hard. Guys were into the game. It ranked up there with some of the games I’ve played.”

(on what was it like having J.J. Watt in the offensive huddle) “It was actually funny. It was something they thought about doing earlier during the week and didn’t know if they’d do it in the game or not. They actually did it early in the game. I thought they’d get him a touchdown but it didn’t turn out that way.”

(on what he thought about J.J. Watt’s route-running) “(Laughs) It’s not hard to mess up a fade route.”

(on Green Bay Packers C Jeff Saturday snapping the ball to Peyton Manning) “Well, they spent a lot of time together and Jeff announced today he was retiring. To get his last snap with Peyton in the Pro Bowl, I think it was great moment and great for the fans to see.”

(on getting to pick guys’ brains like Peyton Manning) "Peyton’s very intense, even though it’s just the Pro Bowl, he’s very intense at what he does. It just shows that’s why he’s the best at what he does.”

(on how many snaps he had in the game with Matt Schaub) “It wasn’t too many. I’m not sure, exactly. I was able to catch a pass from him.”

(on what was it like spending a lot of time with his old college teammate, Indianapolis Colts WR Reggie Wayne) “It’s a lot of fun. You get to be around guys you played college ball with. It never gets old. Being here never gets old. It was a great experience and I enjoyed every minute of it.”

(on being at the Pro Bowl with eight of his teammates) “It was great. This is probably the best Pro Bowl out of all the ones I’ve been to just because of how many teammates I had come. It was a lot of fun.”

(on his family traveling to the game) “My mom, my brother, my uncle and his family, they all came up. I had a great time.”


(houstontexans.com)

HONOLULU -- The first time Andre Johnson made the Pro Bowl, he was the only Texans player invited to play in the game. The second time, too.

Those were the 2004 and 2006 seasons, much leaner years for the franchise. This time around, at Johnson’s sixth Pro Bowl in 10 seasons, he’s one of nine Texans players on the AFC squad.

Johnson said Friday that he’s enjoying being in Hawaii with so many of his teammates. The relaxed smile on his face said that he’s clearly enjoying being at the Pro Bowl, period. It’s an experience that never gets old for the Texans’ all-time leading receiver.

“It’s always an honor,” Johnson said. “You get a chance to be around great players, the best of the best. It’s a lot of fun. You get a chance to pick their brains a little bit about football and get to learn a lot about those guys, the way they work and just being around them and their families and stuff like that. So it’s always a lot of fun to be over here.”

One of the players Johnson has spent a lot of time with this week is former Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne, his former teammate at the University of Miami. They watched Miami’s basketball team upset No. 1-ranked Duke together earlier in the week.

Johnson also has been hanging out a lot with Texans teammates like quarterback Matt Schaub, who marveled on Friday at Johnson’s 2012 season.

“Midway through, he really got hot, and he was just the Andre that we know,” Schaub said. “He was just playing at such a high level, making huge plays for us. It’s just special to see what he’s doing as he gets through his career.”

Johnson had the best season of his career this year at age 31, leading the AFC with a career-high 1,598 receiving yards. He did it in the face of nagging, rampant media speculation in the offseason about whether his age and injuries – he missed nine games with hamstring issues in 2011 – had taken a toll on his ability.

“You keep it in the back of your mind when people doubt you,” Johnson said. “I knew that I could still go out and put up big numbers and play well as a player. That’s why I’m here.”

Now that he’s here, Johnson is getting a chance to reflect on the Texans’ season. It ended in disappointment, but it also featured more victories than any season in franchise history.

“I think we took a step in the right direction as a football team,” Johnson said. “Things didn’t turn out the way we wanted ‘em to in the end, but I think we’re building a very solid foundation as an organization, as a team. Hopefully, we can just keep heading in the right direction.”

Added Johnson, addressing Texans fans: “Appreciate you guys’ support. Best fans in the NFL. Can’t wait ‘til next season.”


(houstontexans.com)

Wide receiver Andre Johnson finished 2012 with a career-best 1,598 yards receiving.

Detroit wideout Calvin Johnson and Chicago Bear Brandon Marshall were the All-Pro selections at receiver, but the Texan had the better numbers in one key category: yards per route run.

According to ProFootballFocus.com, Johnson was the only player to register better than 3 yards per route run, and he finished with 3.01 total. Yards per route run was decribed in the post here:

This unique metric evaluates yardage totals solely based on routes run so that the stats are indicative of performance relative to the number of opportunities. It’s easy enough to understand, so let’s look at the notable performances.

Johnson and eight of his teammates are in Honolulu for the Pro Bowl this week.


(houstontexans.com)

HOUSTON — By no means are the Texans expecting people to forget the 42-14 beating they took a month ago at Gillette Stadium. They haven’t forgotten it themselves.

The memory is still fresh for wide receiver Andre Johnson. But seeing the way the Texans have been written off by many, Johnson could only shake his head.
“Every team comes into the season with an ultimate goal and that’s winning the Super Bowl,” Johnson said. “There’s steps you have to go through to get to that point and that’s a big one.

“A lot of people say we don’t have a chance. I just laugh at it. We’ll be ready.’’

Coming off a season in which he racked up a career-high 1,598 receiving yards (second in the league) when many said his best years were behind him, Johnson tunes out the doubt.

“I really don’t get caught up in what people say,” Johnson said. “You have to go out and play.

“We know what kind of football team we are. We know if we go out and play well, we’re capable of beating anybody.”

The Texans will have pieces that were not there a month ago.

Tight end Garrett Graham, who sat out the first meeting with lingering effects of a concussion, will likely be on the field, although he sustained another concussion last week against the Bengals.

And Owen Daniels is coming off a team-high seven-catch, 73-yard performance.

“In order for us to get where we want to go, it’s not going to take one guy,” Johnson said. “It’s going to take everybody.”


(boston.com)

HOUSTON -- Houston's Andre Johnson heard the whispers he'd lost a step and that he'd never again be an elite receiver as he struggled through the worst season of his career in 2011.

He didn't let it get him down.

Johnson used it as motivation, and bounced back from last year's 492-yard season with a career-high 1,598 yards receiving this season.

Now he's looking to do more as the Texans prepare for Saturday's playoff game against the Bengals.

His performance this season has left him with Jerry Rice and Marvin Harrison as the only players in NFL history with at least three seasons with 1,500 yards receiving. He also reached the mark in 2008 and 2009.

Johnson has 112 catches this season for his fourth career 100-catch year and his most since finishing with 115 catches in 2008. He was recently selected to his sixth Pro Bowl and has more than 11,000 yards receiving in his career.

Coach Gary Kubiak calls Johnson's season "amazing", and loves the way he leads the Texans by example with his hard work and positive attitude.

"I've been fortunate to be around some special players, but I really count my blessings with this one," Kubiak said. "He's a heck of a player, but a great kid, too."
Johnson has had success against Cincinnati, and is averaging 122.7 yards receiving in his past three games against the Bengals.

He's disappointed that the team has struggled recently, losing three of its past four games. But he believes they'll turn things around on Saturday.

"We just haven't been playing football the way that we know how to play it," Johnson said. "We just have to get back to what we have done earlier during the season. Find that same kind of focus and everybody just lock into what they're doing and just go play football the way we know how to play it."

Johnson got off to a slow start this season after being hampered by minor injuries in training camp. But he has been on a roll in the past seven games, piling up 1,001 yards. Johnson has six 100-yard games this season, including a career-best 273 yards receiving in a win over the Jaguars.

Bengals coach Marvin Lewis doesn't believe it's possible to shut down Johnson, but they do hope to limit his catches.

"He's a fine, fine player and I don't know about shutting (him) down and if you can ... do that because as we know, it's a two-pronged attack there with both the running game and the throwing game that comes off of it," Lewis said. "You really have to play really sound, sound defensive football in order to do that."

Johnson has a lot of respect for the Bengals, and knows Houston will have to play much better than it has been to win on Saturday.

"(They) might be the most talented defense we probably have faced," Johnson said. "They've been playing good football, a lot of good players on the back end, so it'll be a big challenge for us."

Johnson, who is the longest-tenured Texan, waited eight seasons before finally making the playoffs for the first time last season. His second trip will be very similar to the first with Houston hosting Cincinnati in a wild-card game for the second straight season.

"It's not new," Johnson said. "Last year it was new to us. This time it's not new. It's crazy that we're in the same place we were in last year, playing the same team. It'll be big. And we'll be ready to go."

One player it will be new to is quarterback Matt Schaub, who missed last year's playoff run with an injured foot. Much of the blame for Houston's recent slump has been directed at Schaub.

"That's just part of it," Johnson said. "When the team is not playing well, the quarterback is going to take most of the criticism. It's all about how you respond. We have another game Saturday, so however he goes out and plays Saturday that's what people will talk about."


(abclocal.com)

With a 39-yard catch from Texans quarterback Matt Schaub, Andre Johnson joined elite company.

Johnson became only the second receiver in NFL history to record 1,500 yards and 100 catches in three separate seasons. The first, fittingly since Johnson did it against the Colts, was former Colts receiver Marvin Harrison.

With that catch, Johnson has 104 catches and 1,505 this season. He had 115 catches and 1,575 yards in 2008, and in 2009 he had 101 catches and 1,569 yards.


(chron.com)

Considering how things have turned out, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne never gives his decision to re-up with the team that drafted him a second thought.

But that doesn't mean he didn't at least fantasize about a college reunion.

Imagine, Wayne and Andre Johnson, former teammates at the University of Miami, working out of the same huddle instead of once again working off opposing sidelines this afternoon at Lucas Oil Stadium.

"It would have been cool," said Wayne, a driving force behind the Colts' dramatic rags-to-riches season. "We joked about it all offseason, man."

Wayne's contract expired at the end of the very forgettable 2-14 season. Free agency loomed, and the Colts had given him no indication he would be part of what appeared to be a very uncertain future.

The dialogue between Wayne and Johnson was constant. So was the topic.

"He asked me, 'What's going on in your camp?' " Wayne said. "I was like, 'Nothing. I have no idea.'

"He joked that it could be like old times. 'I need some help over here.' "

Wayne's response always was the same.

"You know my number."

Wayne admits he had a few solid offers and said he "left a few million dollars on the table" when he accepted the Colts' three-year, $17.5 million offer in mid-March.

He steadfastly refuses to divulge the suitors, but Johnson indicated Wayne had an interest in a relocation to Houston.

"Here was one of the places that he actually wanted to come," Johnson said. "I was hoping that I would get a chance to be able to play with him again. Unfortunately, it didn't go that way."

One of the reasons Wayne re-signed with the Colts was the arrival of Chuck Pagano as head coach. Pagano was an assistant coach at Miami when Wayne was developing into a first-round draft pick. And it was Pagano who recruited Johnson to "The U."

In retrospect, Wayne and Johnson realize Wayne made the appropriate decision.

"Even as we joke about it now, he tells me, 'You made the right decision,' " Wayne said. "I feel like I did, too. But it's good to think about the 'What ifs?' "

Added Johnson: "He started there, he's had a great career there. I'm just happy he's there playing at a high level even though he's been doing it for 12 seasons."


(indystar.com)

Six Miami Hurricanes were among those named to the 2013 Pro Bowl, announced by the National Football League offices Wednesday.

With its six selections, Miami tied Tennessee for the lead among all universities nationwide.

Andre Johnson (Houston Texans) and Reggie Wayne (Indianapolis Colts) were two of the four AFC selections at wide receiver. The veteran proCanes wideouts, who each earned their sixth Pro Bowl nod, have played pivotal roles for their respective teams through Week 16, combining for over 200 catches and 2,700 yards. Johnson ranks first in the conference with 1,457 receiving yards, while Wayne ranks second in the AFC with 102 receptions.

Johnson's teammate Chris Myers earned his second Pro Bowl selection when he was named the AFC's back-up center. The former sixth-round draft pick was also named to the Pro Bowl in 2011.

Two of the league's best defenders, Baltimore Ravens' safety Ed Reed and New England Patriots' nose tackle Vince Wilfork, were among those selected as starters. Reed earned his ninth trip in 11 professional seasons, while Wilfork was selected to his fifth-career Pro Bowl.

San Francisco 49ers' running back Frank Gore, who recently marked his team-record sixth 1,000-yard season, was the lone proCane NFC selection. The four-time Pro Bowler has rushed for 1,146 yards this season.


(hurricanesports.com)

Co-Offensive Players of the Week:

Reggie Wayne: proCane Colts WR Reggie Wayne caught five catches and scored the game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter with a little over four minutes to play to help seal an unexpected playoff berth for a young Colts team. Wayne helped Luck break the single-season rookie passing record Sunday, ranks sixth in the NFL with 1,315 yards and fifth in receptions with 102. Wayne extended his NFL record 63 game streak of having 3 or more receptions.

Andre Johnson: proCane Texans WR Andre Johnson recorded his 800th career reception in Sunday's loss to Minnesota, reaching the impressive milestone in the second-fewest games of any player in league history (Marvin Harrison). The 10th-year wide receiver built on another terrific season with a seven-catch performance, eclipsing the 100-catch plateau for the fourth time in his career. The Miami, Fla., native, who has the fourth-most catches of any active player, now ranks third in the NFL with 1,457 receiving yards and fifth with 100 receptions. Johnson finished the game with 7 catches for 97 yards.

Lamar Miller: proCane Dolphins RB Lamar Miller in his first chance at extended play for Miami this season didn’t disappoint. Miller rushed 10 times for 73 yards in Sunday's win over the Bills, leading the Dolphins in rushing. Miller is getting an extended look with Daniel Thomas out for the season, and showed big-play ability while filling in for Reggie Bush. He should go into the offseason no worse than second on the running back depth chart, and could be considered for a starting role if Bush doesn't re-sign.

Honorable Mention: Santana Moss, WR Redskins.

Defensive Players of Week:

Sam Shields: proCane Packers DB Sam Shields continued his stellar play after returning from injury three weeks ago. Shields had 1 tackle, 1 sack, 1 tackle for loss, 1 pass deflection and 1 interception in Packers blowout victory over the Titans. Since his return Dec. 9 from an ankle injury, Shields has two interceptions in three games, his first sack in nearly two years and seven passes defensed, just a few stats to tell of his big hits, inseparable coverage and feisty nature in no man's land.
Honorable Mention: Calais Campbell, DE Cardinals.

Special Teams Player of the Week:

Matt Bosher: proCane Falcons P Matt Bosher continued his great 2nd season with four punts in Week 16. Bosher’s four punts totaled 167 yards with a long of 47 yards, and average of 41.8 yards and two punts were downed inside the 20-yard line.

Co-Offensive Players of the Week:

Leonard Hankerson: proCane Redskins WR Leonard Hankerson caught two passes for 56 yards with two touchdowns in the Redskins' Week 15 win over the Browns. Hankerson made the most of his two targets. His first score came when he blew past Sheldon Brown and Kirk Cousins threaded the needle between three Browns for a 54-yard score in the first quarter. His second touchdown came on a simple goal-line bootleg from Cousins. Don't chase these plays as Hankerson continues to rotate with Josh Morgan opposite No. 1 target Pierre Garcon.

Andre Johnson: proCane Texans WR Andre Johnson caught 11 balls for 151 yards and a touchdown as the Texans defeated the Colts 29-17 in Week 15.
He was targeted 13 times, a game high on either side of the ball. Johnson was truly dominant against Colts top CB Vontae Davis, consistently winning 50:50 balls in the air and scoring from three yards out on a rub route deep in the red zone. Johnson has reasserted himself at age 31 as a top-five NFL receiver and likely future Hall of Famer. The past eight games have been the most productive stretch of Johnson's career, averaging 8.4 catches and 119.6 yards per game. He needs just seven receptions and 140 yards to join Marvin Harrison as the only receivers with at least 100 catches and 1,500 yards in three seasons. Andre Johnson also topped 11,000 career receiving yards this week

Honorable Mention: Travis Benjamin WR Browns, Jimmy Graham TE Saints, Frank Gore RB 49ers.

Defensive Players of Week:

Calais Campbell: proCane Cardinals DE Calais Campbell in his first game back from a calf injury played his best all-around game since Week 2 at New England despite still dealing with the lingering effects of a calf injury that sidelined him for a month. He wasn’t in pain while he recorded eight tackles, four for losses, a sack, a quarterback hurry and a pass deflection, but his calf wasn’t completely healed either.
Honorable Mention: Sam Shields DB Packers

Special Teams Player of the Week:

Matt Bosher: proCane Falcons P Matt Bosher continued his great 2nd season though this week he only had two punts but made them count. Bosher’s two punts totaled 100 yards with a long of 61 yards, and average of 50 yards and one touchback.

HOUSTON—At first, Houston Texans receiver Andre Johnson heard the whispers. As his frustration grew, the whispers became shouts, but he kept quiet. He knew the real reason he had only nine catches for 164 yards over a four-game stretch early in the season.

Fans and media insisted Johnson’s career was coming to an end. They pointed to his puny statistics, so very un-Johnson like, as mounting evidence. Yes, Johnson had started the season with eight catches for 119 yards and a touchdown in a victory over Miami, but then, the critics claimed, Johnson hit that proverbial wall that slows so many veterans, no matter how talented they were or how much they had accomplished.

Johnson, who turned 31 in July, knew a lingering groin injury that had slowed him in training camp had not healed. Combined with the two hamstring injuries that limited him to seven games and 33 catches for 492 yards in 2011, and it was easy to see why so many thought Johnson was nearing the end of a magnificent run as one of the NFL’s premier receivers.

“You’re going to have doubters, no matter what you do, because that’s the nature of this business,” Johnson said, standing in front of his locker. “People have their own opinions. I knew what a lot of people were saying, but I also knew what was going on. I knew it was only a matter of time, a matter of getting healthy.”
And then Johnson did get healthy, and then his performance took off again. Since that four-game stretch that brought out the “doubters,” as Johnson calls them, he has averaged 8.4 catches and 119.6 yards per game.

“I’m feeling a lot better,” Johnson said. “I feel like my explosion came back. That’s a big part of my game, so I feel a lot better than I did at the beginning.”
Johnson is coming off the best eight-game stretch of his illustrious career, with 68 catches for 1,002 yards. The doubters have gone silent.

“He never ceases to amaze me,” Texans coach Gary Kubiak said. “What I’ve seen him do has been spectacular. It just goes to show everything he’s been through with the health issues. He worked so hard to get back, and now he’s back and playing as well as anytime in his career. He’s playing with a ton of confidence.

“I’ve been fortunate to (coach) receivers like Jerry Rice (at San Francisco) and Rod Smith (Denver), and Andre’s like them. They don’t just walk on the field and make it happen without putting in a lot of hard work to get there.”

With 93 catches for 1,360 yards this season, Johnson needs seven receptions and 140 yards to join Marvin Harrison as the only receivers with at least 100 catches and 1,500 yards in three seasons. Johnson also could join Rice as the only receivers with 100 catches and 1,500 yards in their 10th season or later.
“It’s fun to be a part of his legacy, to witness it firsthand,” running back Arian Foster said. “He’s going to continue to play at a high level because that’s what he’s been doing for years. To see him work has been inspiring for me and my career.

“I’m so happy for him because I see how much work he puts into his craft. Injuries are a part of the game. They’re going to happen to everyone that plays this game. It’s about how you deal with them, and he bounced back incredibly well. He deserves everything he has.”

Just how great has Johnson (6-3, 230) been? He has averaged 5.88 catches per game, the most in NFL history for players with at least 500 receptions. Harrison is second with 5.80. Since Kubiak became his head coach in 2006, Johnson has averaged 6.5 catches per game.

“I’m glad I don’t have to go against him anymore,” defensive coordinator Wade Phillips said. “Every week, he gets the ultimate compliment because of what defenses do to try to stop him.”

Johnson lines up wide to both sides and in the slot. He also starts in the backfield and goes in motion. There have been times when Kubiak has him shift into the backfield and run his route from there.

Johnson still runs well. He’s strong off the line of scrimmage. He runs precise routes. He can outjump smaller cornerbacks. He has amazing concentration when the ball’s in the air. His strong, quick hands allow him to snatch the ball from defenders.

“Defenses try to take him away from our offense, and we try to do some things in our scheme to get him open,” quarterback Matt Schaub said. “I always want to know where Andre is.

“He’s the ultimate security blanket. When we need a play, I’m going in his direction. We see all types of coverages, but when push comes to shove, I’ll still go to him because I know he’s going to make a play on the ball. I have the utmost confidence in what he can do.

“I’ve been watching him up close and personal for six years, but every time I think I’ve seen it all, he outdoes himself. He continues to wow me. It’s remarkable to see what he’s done this season. You can see he’s taken his game to a new level.”

Over the last six seasons, Johnson’s average of 90.2 yards per game is the NFL’s best. Detroit's Calvin Johnson is second at 83.8.

Before he became the Lions’ coach, Jim Schwartz was Tennessee’s defensive coordinator. That meant he had to game-plan for Johnson two times a season. Schwartz sees a lot of similarities between Calvin Johnson and Andre Johnson, who rank first and third in yards this season. Calvin Johnson is 182 yards short of breaking Rice’s season record of 1,848, set in 1995.

“Everybody knows what great players they are,” Schwartz said. “The thing that’s similar about them other than the size and their production is the fact that they’re team-first guys. They’re willing to do all the little things that maybe get unnoticed when you’re getting 117 yards a game. They’re good team players and extremely hard workers.

“With all the stereotypical diva wide receivers, these two guys are old-school receivers. They do their job. Both of them block very well. Both of them can make you pay down the field with deep balls, but they both also catch short passes and run after the catch.”

The Lions have firsthand knowledge about the kind of season Andre Johnson is having, as he caught nine passes for 188 yards in the Texans’ 34-31 overtime victory at Ford Field. Coupled with the previous game—a 43-37 OT victory over Jacksonville—and Johnson’s two-game total of 461 yards was the most prolific in NFL history.

“He’s been doing it for a long time, and I’ve definitely been looking up to what he’s been doing,” Calvin Johnson said. “I’ve been watching him since before I came into this league. I like the physicality he brings to the game. I like the way he makes his presence known.”

Ever since he came to the Texans with the third overall pick in the 2003 draft, Johnson’s presence has been felt. He’s the only receiver to have at least 60 catches in each of his first eight seasons.

Since 1970, Johnson and Wes Welker have put up the most games with at least 10 catches and 100 yards—16. Johnson is the third-fastest receiver to reach 11,000 yards (11,016) behind Rice and Torry Holt.

“I’ve been around this league a long time, and I’ve been fortunate to be with some Hall of Fame players, and I think you’re looking at one,” Kubiak said. “He’s a special player and a special person with an incredible work ethic. He’s the ‘go’ for this team. And he’s money.

“He’s a big-time leader, a quiet leader by example most of the time. But when he talks in front of the team, everybody listens. We tell all the young guys to watch the way he handles himself in practice, meetings and the dressing room. He’s a worker, a class act. Everybody looks to him.

“I think the most impressive thing about Andre is how committed he’s been to this organization through some very tough times. He’s stuck with this organization to get into the position it is now.”

The Texans are 12-2 and AFC South champions for the second consecutive season. If they defeat Minnesota at Reliant Stadium on Sunday, they’ll earn home-field advantage in the AFC playoffs.

“It’s just a great feeling because of what I’ve been through with the organization,” Johnson said about the Texans’ quest to reach their first Super Bowl. “This is something we’ve been working for around here for a long time, to put ourselves in a situation like this.

“I didn’t think it’d take 10 seasons for it to happen, though. I’m just enjoying every moment of it.”

In his first eight seasons, Johnson was forced to watch the playoffs on television. Fans and media wanted to know why he never asked for a trade or even complained publicly about the constant losing.

“There’s always frustration, and I think that’s the thing that makes you grow as a player, as a person,” he said. “You kind of find out a lot about yourself, if you’re going to be loyal or if you’re just going to run away from it. My thing was I wanted to stay. I wanted to be a part of something special. I wanted to help this organization get to where it is right now and even help it achieve more.”

Johnson was healthy last season for the first playoff victory in team history, against Cincinnati, and the seven-point loss at Baltimore. He had 13 catches for 201 yards and a touchdown in those two games.

When the Texans begin the playoffs this season, Johnson wants to pick up where he left off.

“We’re learning as we go through this experience, but we know every game gets bigger,” he said. “Just having that experience from last year is so important because we know what to expect.”

Clinching a second consecutive AFC South title isn’t enough for the Texans.

“Last season, we’d never done it before, but we’re familiar with it now, and we have bigger goals,” Johnson said. “This is the most fun I’ve had since I’ve been here. And I don’t want it to stop.”

Johnson hopes it won’t stop until the Texans reach their first Super Bowl. And, later, membership for him in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.


(sportingnews.com)

Andre Johnson jumped to the fore and seized the lead role early, then Arian Foster took over late. Foster would call their shared co-starring role for the Texans’ offense “a thing of beauty.”

Throw in another “monster-mode” effort by the defense’s resident force of nature, J. J. Watt, and we can call the 12-2 Texans AFC South champions. The Indianapolis Colts, who were the last threat to same, went down 29-17 on an afternoon when both Foster and Johnson exceeded 150 yards, something they’d never before done in the same game.

“You want an offense that can win in the air and on the ground,” said Foster, who ran for 165 to Johnson’s 151 receiving. “I think that’s what (head coach Gary) Kubiak envisioned when he put this team together. When you’re firing on all cylinders like that (you’re) tough to beat.

“The players are making plays and the coaches are putting us in position to make plays. I think it’s a tribute to the organization’s eye for talent.”

Foster and Johnson proved to be perfect bookends on a day the Texans used to rinse their mouths after a disastrous visit to New England last Monday night. Two plays in, Matt Schaub’s already had two completions to the latter – the second for 52 yards on a spectacular catch in heavy traffic – and the Texans were perched at the Colts’ 19. Only a field goal resulted, but it provided a 3-0 lead.

Houston is 8-0 this season when getting on the scoreboard first.

Johnson already had seven receptions for 107 yards by halftime, while Foster was off to a sluggish start, gaining only 34 on 11 rushes. But things went exactly the other way in the fourth quarter when Foster averaged 8.8 on his nine carries – despite being deprived of a 27-yard touchdown sprint that wiped out by left guard Wade Smith’s hold. Unfazed by the penalty, which Smith admitted was the right call, Foster picked up where he’d left off with four minutes left and carried on seven successive plays for 75 yards, setting up the victory-clinching field goal.

Indy quarterback Andrew Luck would be left with just 65 seconds to try to make up two scores. Even the Colts’ Comeback Kid himself couldn’t pull that off.
“We have to close out games as an offense,” Foster said. “Everybody’s tired at the end. Everybody is at 70 percent, 80 percent. But your 70 percent has to be better than somebody else’s 70 percent. You have to find a way to dig deeper. That’s my mindset. I’ve been like that since I was a kid. It’s just part of how I train . . . to be at my best when everybody else is tired and I’m tired. I take a lot of pride in that.”

So did a fellow named Earl Campbell, who closed out plenty of games following the same script for the Houston Oilers. You keep hammering away with the likes of Campbell and Foster and the most stalwart of defenses will stagger. Something has to give.

Johnson said he grabbed Foster when the Texans regained possession and told him, “Just run us home.”

The Texans’ consummate under-appreciated grunt up front, center Chris Myers, explained why the offense was able to finish like it did. Life is a lot easier when you’re not having to play catch-up, as had been the case in the 42-14 drubbing by the Patriots on Monday night.

“When it came to that last drive, we opened up some holes and Arian just took off with some breakout runs,” Myers said. “That’s how it works. You pound, pound, pound, grind, grind, grind and finally you bust out. You tap ‘em for four yards here, three yards there . . . a few no gainers. But, as long as you stay true to what you do, those bust-out runs are going to come.

“We haven’t had a run like (Foster’s negated TD) in awhile. But you can get a feel for how the game is going, when the defense is kind of back on their heels a little bit. (The Colts) were on that last drive and we took advantage of it.”

Quarterback Matt Schaub seemed to be on the same wave length.

“You just stick with the game plan,” he said. “We had some hard times finding holes with the run game early, even through the third quarter. But those 3-, 4-yard runs can turn into big ones, and they did in the second half.”

Of Johnson’s explosive start Schaub said, ‘Dre just did what he’s done his whole career. (On the second-down bomb) we had a play fake, a little ‘boot’ going on. We sold the fake really hard and he just popped wide open, got behind everybody. I was trying to give him a chance to make a play. It a closely contested ball but he came up with it.”

The Texans’ offensive players routinely talk about how much they enjoy watching Watt wreaking havoc. The second-year defensive, on everyone’s short list for NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors, repaid the compliment when asked how much pleasure he gleaning from seeing Foster hammer his way downfield, leaving Colts strewn in his path.

“When our offense can end the game on the field with a huge drive like, that’s the way we love it,” Watt said. “Watching ‘Dre starting out the game, then Arian running (at the end) . . . I love this team. We can get you three different ways – offense, defense, special teams – and there’s a love for each other (in the locker room) and a genuine team chemistry.”


(chron.com)

FOXBORO, Mass. — At 11-1 entering Monday night’s “game of the year,” as many had billed it, the Texans had gotten used to whipping the hind side of their opposition. This time around, though, it was quite the opposite.

The Patriots laid a 42-14 beat down on the visiting Texans on national television. It was a loss that Houston players were so embarrassed by that even team leaders were outwardly ashamed. Arian Foster was quick to admit that they had gotten out-played “in all aspects of the game.” Matt Schaub decided to express his frustrations with the old undertaker analogy, saying “we dug ourselves a hole.” But no one was more disgusted than wide receiver Andre Johnson.

Johnson knows all too well what it’s like to lose, being on five Texans teams that have finished under .500 in his nine-year career. But not like this, and especially not a game with such huge implications. “We know how important this game was to us. It was a good ass whipping and that is pretty much it,”

Johnson said candidly after the loss. Johnson’s response may seem a bit profane to some, but in reality it’s exactly right. The Texans clearly weren’t ready for the challenge of the Patriots and the end result showed it. The Texans will undoubtedly move past this loss into the final three weeks of the season. But you can bet that Johnson won’t let his teammates forget about the whipping they took in Foxboro, especially come playoff time.


(nesn.com)

FOXBORO — It’s been 10 years since Vince Wilfork [stats] shared a practice field and won a national championship with Andre Johnson at Miami, but he remembers it like it was yesterday.

Though the pair played on opposite sides of the ball, Wilfork admired the wideout. And his tune remains the same today.

“That’s a guy, when you talk about a team player, he has the heart of a champion,” said Wilfork, heading into Monday’s matchup with Johnson’s Houston Texans [team stats]. “He’s very quiet, doesn’t say much. I just remember playing with him in college, he was always quiet. But he was a fireball on the field. He’d give it his all. He’d play hurt. He’s a tough, tough football player. That’s one thing I always look back when playing with him and seeing him 10 years later in the NFL, still doing it. He has a lot to be proud of.”

Wilfork played with Johnson in the 2001 and 2002 seasons. Their teams went 24-1, beating Nebraska for the BCS National Championship in January 2002. (Johnson was named the Rose Bowl co-MVP.) As a freshman, Wilfork didn’t start but played in every game, finishing with 41 tackles, a sack and three forced fumbles. Johnson, a sophomore, led Miami in receiving with 682 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Wilfork, like Johnson, entered the NFL after his junior season and found instant success. The Patriots [team stats] defensive tackle, in nine seasons, has earned four Pro Bowl and All-Pro bids. Johnson, in 10 seasons, has been selected to the Pro Bowl five times and to the All-Pro team four.

This season, Johnson is fourth in the NFL with 1,114 receiving yards. Slowed by injuries in the first half of the season, Johnson — says Texans quarterback Matt Schaub — is playing like himself again. The past five games, he’s hauled in 40 passes for 670 yards.

“I’ve said before you know, he’s really feeling like he’s hitting his stride and he really feels like he’s getting back to the Andre of old,” said Schaub. “I think you’ve seen it the past few weeks or months, some of the games that he’s had that were against Jacksonville and Detroit. He really is continuing to play at a very, very high level.”

Though Wilfork praised Johnson’s heart on the field, the wideout is one of the league’s most caring off of the gridiron as well. This week, he donated more than $19,000 for a Christmas shopping spree at Toys “R” Us to 12 children, selected by Child Protective Services.

“They have a great, great guy in Andre Johnson,” said Wilfork. “He’s a specimen. He’s special.”


(bostonherald.com)

HOUSTON — There were moments, especially during the lost season of 2005 when victories were as scarce hereabouts as snowmobiles, that Andre Johnson would wonder whether there wasn’t an exit ramp for him somewhere in this freeway-happy town.

“I wouldn’t say that there was a time when I said, ‘Get me out of here,’ ” recalled the Texans’ receiver laureate. “Had I thought about it? Yeah.”

But that wasn’t what the man had signed on for when he arrived from Miami in 2003 as the franchise’s sticky-fingered future.

“I knew there would be tough times coming to a new franchise,” he said, “but you had a chance to be part of something special.”

The Texans haven’t won a Super Bowl yet but have clinched a return trip to the NFL playoffs and already are assured of their best season (11-1 and counting) since they opened shop in 2002, the year that the Patriots won their first ring.

If Houston beats New England Monday night in Foxborough — which no visitor has managed in a decade of Decembers — it would be well on its way to clinching home advantage throughout the postseason, which would have seemed a long shot even two years ago.

“This is something we’ve been working for around here for a long time, to put ourselves in a situation like this,” remarked Johnson, who has proclaimed the star-spangled showdown as the biggest game in franchise history. “I didn’t think it would take 10 seasons for it to happen, but it did, and I’m just enjoying every moment of it.”

Elite numbers
Johnson is the only man on the roster who goes back that far, and he’s savoring what is shaping up as a career campaign. He has surpassed the 10,000-yard milestone for receiving yards (10,770) and submitted his sixth 1,000-yard season (1,114).

Last month, when Houston survived overtime shootouts with Jacksonville and Detroit, Johnson set an NFL record for yardage in consecutive games with 461, piling up 273 on 14 catches against the Jaguars (including the winning 48-yard touchdown), and 188 on nine against the Lions.

“It’s been six years now I’ve been watching it up close and personal, but every time I think I’ve seen it all, he goes and does something even to outdo himself before,” testified quarterback Matt Schaub.

“He just continues to impress me and wow me as far as what he’s able to do on the football field.”

Significantly, Johnson is doing it at 31 after missing nine games last year with an uncooperative hamstring that kept him fidgeting in street clothes while his teammates were making their unprecedented run to the playoffs.

“Last year, I was excited, but at the same time, I was down because you’re like, man, I know I could be out there helping the team,” said Johnson, who returned for the playoffs.

“Those would be the times when I would get down on myself and try to hope that I could hurry up and come back.

“But at the same time, I was excited to see that it was all coming together, that we finally had a chance to make the playoffs. Now, it just makes you appreciate it even more.”

The Texans without Johnson would be like the Colts without Reggie Wayne, and his body of work rivals that of any of his counterparts in the game for consistency at a lofty level.

Johnson is the only receiver ever to have at least 60 catches in each of his first eight seasons. His 80.4-yards-a-game average is the highest in history among receivers who’ve played at least 100 games, and his receptions per game (5.82) are the most for anyone with at least 500.

“Coming into this league, I always said that I wanted to be the best that ever played, but to accomplish that, you have to try to be consistent,” said Johnson. “That’s my biggest thing, trying to be consistent year in and year out.

“I’ve battled through a lot of injuries in my career but I always thought that if I could be healthy, that I could go out and put up the big numbers.”

Hanging tough
Most impressively, Johnson put them up for a team that didn’t have a winning season until three years ago and where his Sunday stats were the sidelight to a defeat. But the 2005 season, when the Texans went 2-14 and Johnson was limited to 63 catches and 688 yards, tested his resolve.

“There were times when I didn’t want to get up and come to work,” he acknowledged. “It’s hard because you’re working your butt off and you just can’t get the job done. That’s the biggest thing I tell the guys. You don’t ever want to experience that because it’s not a good feeling.”

There were better teams that could have promised Johnson more productive outings, but he was determined to stay the course while a toddling franchise became competitive.

“There’s always frustration, but that’s the thing that makes you grow as a player, as a person,” he said. “You’ve got to find out a lot about yourself — if you’re going to be loyal, if you’re going to run away from it.

“My thing was, I wanted to stay. I wanted to be a part of something special. I wanted to help this organization get to where it is right now and help it achieve more.”

Progress came excruciatingly slowly. Houston went 6-10 in 2006, then 8-8 for two years, and then 9-7 before backsliding to 6-10 in 2010. Still, anything was better than 2-14.

“I really don’t think things could have got any worse than what they already were,” Johnson reckoned. “Things were coming together and you could just see it.”
The arrival of general manager Rick Smith and coach Gary Kubiak from the Broncos in 2006 was the turning point. When the Texans brought in Schaub from Atlanta a year later, it took a while for him and Johnson to align themselves.

“When Matt first got here, he would tell me every play why he didn’t throw me the ball,” Johnson remembered. “It got to a point where we started to see the same things out on the field.

“You just kind of know each other. In the heat of the moment, you know where the ball is going. I’m just glad that I’ve been able to make plays and come up big in games and I’m glad that he has the faith in me to take a chance of throwing the ball.”

Presence and presents
Whenever he isn’t stuffing the ball into the belly of Arian Foster, his 1,000-yard running back, Schaub usually is looking for No. 80 downfield.

“The ultimate security blanket,” he said. “If push comes to shove and we need a play, I know I’m going to go in his direction.”

After last year’s injury, the Texans weren’t sure whether Johnson could return to his customary top-of-the-line form.

“After what he went through and watching early in the year . . . I think there was some concern on his part and my part,” said Kubiak. “We were trying to work through some things, limit the reps, do all the right things to get him back.

“Then all of a sudden we come out of New York [in early October], and since then, it’s just been, ‘Game on.’ ”

The Texans are savoring the holiday season now, and Johnson spent Tuesday afternoon at a local Toys ‘R’ Us store watching a dozen at-risk children fill shopping carts with gifts for themselves and their siblings in 80 seconds as he picked up the $20,000 tab.

“It’s a great thing to be able to help people in need,” said Johnson, who established his charitable foundation when he was a rookie. “I always said if I was to make it to the NFL I would always give back to the community.”

Even if he were wearing a Santa suit, Johnson would be recognizable in Sam Houston’s town. If he didn’t leave when his team was drilling nothing but dust, he’s certainly not leaving in the middle of a gusher.

“I don’t plan on going anywhere,” he declared.


(bostonglobe.com)

As the Texans get ready to face the Patriots on Monday Night Football, a player who has been in Houston for all but one year of the franchise’s existence has a fairly strong assessment of the meaning of the game.

“It’s big,” Andre Johnson said, via CSNHouston.com.  “You know how big it is, biggest game in the history of this franchise.  It’ll be a big test for us and we’ll be ready to go.”

Some would say that last year’s playoff debut, which took a decade to earn, is still bigger.  But Johnson apparently thinks that this game is the biggest stepping stone to date on what could be a Super Bowl run.

“I think as long as we keep winning, every game is going to get bigger and bigger,” Johnson said. “When you’ve been somewhere you’ve never been before, everything gets bigger.  It’ll be a big game for us.  Everybody knows the significance of this game, so just get ready and we’ll be ready Monday night.”

The significance primarily comes from the impact of the outcome on the playoff seeding.  A win puts the Texans within striking distance of the No. 1 seed, given that they’d have at least a two-game lead (plus the head-to-head tiebreaker) over the Ravens and Broncos and a three-game lead (plus the head-to-head tiebreaker).

Let’s consider that for a second.  If the Texans beat the Pats, Houston will have beaten every other division leader in the AFC this year.  If the rematches occur in Reliant Stadium, the Texans could indeed be heading to New Orleans in late January.

Working against the Texans is the fact that the Pats haven’t lost a home game in December since 2002.  And it’s a big game for New England, since a win over Houston would put the Patriots withing a game of the Texans for the top seed in the AFC.


(profootballtalk.com)

Receiver Andre Johnson was asked after practice Thursday about the importance of Monday’s game at New England.

“You know how big it is?” he said. “(It’s) the biggest game in the history of this franchise. As long as we keep winning, every game is going to get bigger and bigger. When you’ve been somewhere you’ve never been, everything gets bigger.”


(chron.com)

Here's an NFL story designed to warm your heart and terrify your wallet. Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson, one of the league's unquestioned good guys, on Tuesday performed what's becoming an annual ritual for him: a Toys "R" Us shopping spree for at-risk youth in Houston.

Johnson's Foundation, the Andre Johnson Charitable Foundation, funded the spree, in which 12 children selected by Child Protective Services had 80 seconds to fill up their carts with as many toys as they could. And oh, could they fill those carts.

"You hear a minute and twenty seconds, and you don't think that's a long time, but you'd be surprised by what these kids can put into their buckets," Johnson said afterward. You can see his gargantuan receipt in the photo at right.

The children, ranging in ages from 8 to 16, have all suffered parental abuse in some form and now live with extended family members. But each child made sure to purchase toys for siblings and other relatives as well.

Johnson's foundation performs several works throughout the year for children in both Houston and Johnson's Miami hometown. But he told the team's website that it's the Toys "R" Us event that he enjoys the most.

"I think it's probably the best one because you get to see the kids really enjoy it," he said. "That's what this season is about.  It's something I look forward to. The kids are happy, they get what they want for Christmas, and that's all that matters."

After the spree, Johnson also joined the Houston Police Department's Blue Santa program to surprise 800 students at Houston's Bastian Elementary School with Christmas presents.

Johnson stressed that he had traveled the path many of these kids were on, and he hoped they could learn from his example: "I grew up in a single-parent home and I was fortunate to achieve my goals," he said. "So, whatever goals you have, just keep them out in front of you, don't let anybody distract you away from them, because there will be distractions that try to detour you away from your goals. That's the biggest thing."


(yahoosports.com)

Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson has been named the AFC Offensive Player of the Month for November.

Johnson led the AFC in receptions (35), receiving yards (614) and yards from scrimmage (614) in four November games. He averaged 153.5 receiving yards per game, second in the NFL behind Calvin Johnson (154.8) and first in the AFC by a 57-yard margin over A.J. Green (96.5). Johnson set an NFL record for a two-game stretch with 461 receiving yards in the last two games.

Johnson, 31, set franchise records in Week 11 with 14 catches for 273 yards against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He scored the game-winning touchdown on a 48-yard catch-and-run in overtime. He followed that with a nine-catch, 188-yard performance in the Texans’ overtime victory at the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day. Johnson had eight catches for 118 yards in a Week 9 victory against the Buffalo Bills.

Johnson’s big month vaulted him from ranking 18th in the NFL in receptions (34) and yards (444) to sixth (69) and third (1,058), respectively. He is on pace for his third-career 1,500-yard season, which would tie Marvin Harrison for the second-most in NFL history behind Jerry Rice (4).

This is the second AFC Offensive Player of the Month in Johnson’s 10-year career. The five-time Pro Bowler previously won the award in October 2008. This is the second time this season and eighth time in franchise history a Texan has won Player of the Month honors. 


(houstontexans.com)

A slight smile peeked through on Andre Johnson’s face, but only briefly as he dismissed too much talk of the record he set Thursday.

In his last two games, Johnson put together the best back-to-back outings by a receiver in NFL history. His 461 yards over two games topped his friend Chad Johnson’s 2006 total of 450, John Taylor’s 448-yard back-to-back in 1989, and Jerry Rice’s 442 over two consecutive games in 1995.

“It’s great; you can’t downplay it,” Johnson admitted. Then he struggled to find the right words to explain his thoughts on the record. “I just don’t … for some reason, it just doesn’t really … I guess with me it’s different.

“When you’re still playing, it means something, but you just have bigger goals. It’s great to accomplish it. Maybe when the season’s over, I’ll look back and be like, ‘Wow I did something nobody else has done.’ ”

The bigger goals he spoke of were the team’s aspirations to win home-field advantage and a Super Bowl championship, team success Johnson has never tasted in his 10-year career. But as the Texans are nearing the end of a season that began with lofty expectations, Johnson’s record-setting play has helped the pursuit of those team goals and the achieving of a 10-1 record.

“It’s remarkable to see what he’s done not only this season but in the past couple weeks,” quarterback Matt Schaub said. “It’s something that we see all the time in practice. It’s just him being Andre. You can really see he’s taken it upon himself to take his game to a new level. It’s pretty remarkable to watch.”

In the past two weeks, Johnson went from 21st in receiving yards to third behind Detroit’s Calvin Johnson and Indianapolis’ Reggie Wayne.

Silencing the critics While Johnson did start the season with a 100-yard game against the Miami Dolphins, he didn’t have another one until Week 9. In Weeks 2 through 5, Johnson caught a total of nine passes, and whispers of how much he had left arose.

Then his production began to quiet those questions.

“There was some concern early in the year,” Texans coach Gary Kubiak said. “I think there was some concern on his part and my part. We were trying to work through some things, limit the reps, do all the right things to get him back.

“Then all of a sudden, we come out of New York (in Week 5), and since then, it’s just been, ‘Game on.’ He’s been exceptional. He’s been exceptional in practice. All of his confidence is back. Andre is a worker. Andre plays well when he’s working well during the week. That’s just the way he is. It’s fun to watch right now. He’s exceptional. I couldn’t get it to him enough.”

Johnson has had more than 100 yards receiving in three of the last four games. The exception was the Texans’ win in rainy, sloppy Chicago three weeks ago.
And while his career-best 273-yard performance two weeks ago came against a Jacksonville Jaguars team that ranks 28th against the pass, his 188-yard performance — only four days after another overtime game — came against a Lions pass defense that ranks 12th.

Still going strong Johnson’s 31-year-old legs did not tire in either game. He caught most of his passes in the fourth quarter and overtime.

“I don’t know. When I was drafted into this league I just wanted to come in and be the best I could be,” Johnson said. “You don’t know what can happen. You can suffer an injury, and your career can be shortened. I’m very fortunate to be able to play for 10 seasons.

“I always just say when I came out, I wanted to be the best at my position. So far, I think I’ve been doing a very good job of it.”


(chron.com)

There has never been a receiver in the history of football to do what Andre Johnson has done in the past week.

There has never even been a receiver in the history of football to do what he’s done in two games.

Johnson caught an astounding 461 receiving yards in back-to-back games, a feat that’s never been accomplished before. He did it within a five-day span, just weeks after cries of his aging body and questions about whether he was finished circulated.

This wasn’t just among spectators and reporters. After his slow start, there were personnel people around the league who wondered if his decline had started.
This week, in two spectacular games, Johnson answered with a resounding, “No.”

On Sunday against the Jaguars, he caught 14 passes for a career-high 273 yards, including a walk-off 48-yard touchdown catch in overtime. Then, after playing five quarters and only getting three days of rest, at a time when another 31-year-old’s body might feel the strain of fatigue, Johnson caught nine passes for 188 yards. Six of those catches and 101 yards came in the fourth quarter and overtime.

“Andre is rolling right now,” Texans coach Gary Kubiak said. “He’s got confidence, he’s playing his tail off, he’s healthy and he’s back in the best condition I’ve seen him in in three years.”

Two games have catapulted Johnson from 21st in receiving yards to second, behind only Calvin Johnson who got upstaged on Thursday.

Andre Johnson’s total topped Chad Johnson, who had 450 yards in two games in 2006. And Chad Johnson didn’t do it in the same week.


(chron.com)

HOUSTON—Texans receiver Andre Johnson, 31, had read and listened to accusations that he'd lost a step or two, that hamstring and groin injuries last season and in training camp this year had taken a toll on a player who had been considered one of the two best at his position.

Over the last five games, Johnson has answered his critics with a terrific stretch.

In the Texans’ 4-1 run that has elevated their record to 9-1, Johnson has 43 catches for 589 yards and one touchdown. That’s an average of 8.6 catches and 117.8 yards. Johnson was at his record-setting best in Sunday’s 43-37 overtime victory over Jacksonville. He established career highs with 14 catches for 273 yards. The touchdown came in overtime. He caught a quick screen pass from quarterback Matt Schaub near the right sideline and picked up two blocks before sprinting 48 yards down the right sideline for the winning touchdown.

The victory allowed the Texans to remain tied with the Atlanta Falcons for the best record in the NFL entering Thursday’s game at Detroit.

Johnson, in fact, may have lost a step, but he’s strong, smart and knowledgeable about every trick of the trade. He continues to run routes all over the field. He’s fearless over the middle. The offensive coaches move him around. He can be found lining up wide or in the slot. He can start in the backfield and go in motion. He also switches into the backfield and runs his route from that point.

If Johnson continues his outstanding performance over the last six games, he’ll finish with 111 receptions for 1,558 yards.


(sportingnews.com)

An amazing Sunday in Houston. This is modern football at its Monopoly-money best: Justin Blackmon and Johnson became the first two receivers in a game ever to each go over 200 yards. They combined for 21 catches and 509 yards, for a 24.2-yard average reception. I'm incredulous just writing that sentence. Where will it all end?

"It's crazy,'' Johnson told me from the Texans' locker room. "I don't know what to say. I didn't know something like that would ever happen.'' Heck, it may never again. The story in Houston's 43-37 overtime win was the crazy overtime. Houston kicked a field goal. Jacksonville kicked a field goal. Schaub threw an interception. Jacksonville -- correctly, I thought -- went for it and failed on 4th-and-10 from the Houston 47? (Really, what do you have to lose when you're 1-9 and there's two and a half minutes left to play and you're tied against the top team in the conference? Go for the win.) On the second play after that, Schaub threw a wide receiver screen to Johnson on the right side of the formation, and Johnson ran 48 yards for the winning touchdown.

Johnson said he's fully healthy for one of the first times in recent years, and he's able to practice and go through the normal drill work he's had to miss because of two knee scopes and a bad hamstring injury over the past two seasons. "My stride is opening up,'' he said. "I feel like I have my legs back, my explosion. I can't tell you how many OTAs, how many training camp practices, how many regular practices I missed. I feel like I've been battling so many injuries the last two or three years.'' Schaub threw to Johnson 19 times Sunday, and look for numbers like that to be the rule, not the exception, down the stretch.


(cnnsi.com)

It has been a while since Houston Texans receiver Andre Johnson dominated a game the way he did in Week 11 against the Jaguars. Actually, with 273 yards on 14 receptions, he bested his career high in yards by 66. It was his final catch of the game — a 48-yard touchdown that came on a screen — that was Johnson’s most impressive.

In many ways, the Texans were lucky to be in position to win. Tied with Houston at 37-37 with 2 minutes 36 seconds remaining in overtime, the Jaguars faced a 4th-and-10 at the Texans’ 47-yard line. Sitting with a record of 1-8, Jacksonville decided to go for it in a situation when a team fighting for a spot in the playoffs might otherwise punt and play for the tie. The Jags really handed Houston an early Christmas present when Chad Henne failed to connect with Justin Blackmon.

Texans quarterback Matt Schaub found Kevin Walter on a 5-yard out on the next play for Houston, and the clock was ticking inside of 2:20. With no timeouts, Schaub dialed up a play at the line.



Going no-huddle, it took Schaub only 14 seconds to get his offense lined up after the completion to Walter. With a Shotgun 5 Wide formation, the Texans spread the field. The Jaguars showed blitz before the snap, with six defenders — four linemen, a linebacker, and a defensive back — lined up as if they’d rush.



The Jaguars had blitzed on the previous play in an attempt to force the issue on defense. Knowing their only real shot to win was with a takeaway, Jacksonville rightfully played with a high-risk/high-reward defensive strategy. But knowing a blitz was almost certainly on the way, Schaub called the perfect play for the situation: a screen to Johnson.

Interestingly, the Texans actually had a double-screen called. Both Johnson and receiver Lester Jean (lined up closest to the sideline on the three-receiver side of the formation) ran the same route — three steps up before coming back to Schaub. It appeared as if Schaub had his choice of where to go with the ball, choosing Johnson for obvious reasons; in addition to Johnson’s being a bigger threat with the ball, the Jaguars were also out of position to the boundary since they blitzed their slot defender on that side. Further, the Texans released three of their five linemen toward Johnson.



By the time Johnson caught the pass, center Chris Myers, guard Ben Jones and tackle Derek Newton were all in prime position to block. Myers peeled back to catch any trailing defenders, Jones made his way to the second level, and Newton headed out to take care of the cornerback covering Johnson. Jones was particularly useful on the play, acting as a wall between Johnson and the last man to beat: safety Dawan Landry. Jones ran with Johnson for just about 25 yards, paving the way for the receiver’s game-winning score.



In what was probably the most thrilling game of Week 11, the Texans stormed back from a seemingly insurmountable 14-point fourth-quarter deficit. After Blackmon’s 81-yard fourth quarter touchdown, the Texans’ chances of winning were around 4 percent. With a little luck and a few well-timed plays, Houston showed why they could very well be the team to beat in the A.F.C. come January.


(nytimes.com)

HOUSTON — These 10 seconds will not define this year for the Texans. These 10 seconds will not alter the path of their historic season in any substantial way.

These 10 seconds simply showed the connection between Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson and, even more so, between Johnson, the fans' favorite, and those fans.

Johnson turned a screen pass from Schaub into a 48-yard touchdown — each capping one of the best statistical games in NFL history — as the Texans survived perhaps their worst game of the season and escaped with a 43-37 overtime victory over the 1-9 Jacksonville Jaguars at Reliant Stadium on Sunday.

“I love him,” Schaub said of Johnson. “I love the way he plays. ... He gives me a chance to look good. And that's what he did today.

“It was special. That's just Andre.”

Johnson had 14 catches for a career-high 273 yards — the ninth-most in NFL history.

Schaub finished 43 of 55 passing for a career-high 527 yards — tied with ex-Oilers quarterback Warren Moon for the second-most in NFL history — and five touchdowns.

The Texans rallied from a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit and improved to 9-1 — tied with the Falcons for the best record in the NFL.

They entered the game as 151/2-point favorites, the largest spread in the NFL this year.

“We struggled today,” Texans coach Gary Kubiak said. “But we kept battling, and we found a way to win a game another way.”

The Texans now get three days of rest before playing at Detroit (4-6) on Thanksgiving Day.

And they are going to need all of the rest they can get after this wild, entertaining affair.

The Texans finished with a franchise-record 640 total yards but allowed 458 yards to the Jaguars.

The teams traded field goals to start overtime, setting the stage for the most memorable play (so far) in this most memorable Texans season.

Schaub took a shotgun snap. He waited a split second and fired a pass to Johnson, who had turned straight toward Schaub for a screen pass.
Johnson sprinted down the right sideline, not even having to weave between defenders.

Ten seconds after the snap, Johnson, the longest tenured Texan, sprinted through the end zone and into the waiting arms of delirious fans.


(mysanantonio.com)

HOUSTON (AP) - Houston's Andre Johnson and Jacksonville's Justin Blackmon both had more than 200 yards receiving Sunday, marking the first time two players reached that mark in a single game.

Johnson had 14 receptions for 273 yards, both career highs. Blackmon, a rookie, had seven receptions for 236 yards, also career highs.

Blackmon had an 81-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter. Johnson gave the Texans a 43-37 win in overtime with a 48-yard touchdown catch.


(kbtx.com)

Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson only played seven games in 2011 because of injuries, a number he topped Sunday by playing in his eighth game of the season.

Jerome Solomon of the Houston Chronicle reports that Johnson credits a new between game routine for keeping him on the field this season. Johnson is taking fewer reps in practice, doing more stretching and getting regular massages in hopes of being as fresh as possible on Sundays.

It didn’t look like the approach was working all that well through the first five weeks of the season. After catching eight balls in the opener, Johnson had just nine catches in the next four games and looked like a less dangerous receiver than he’s been at earlier points in his career. Things have turned around since then as Johnson has 25 catches in his last three games, including eight for 118 yards in Sunday’s win. The Texans had stretches of ineffective play on offense Sunday, but Matt Schaub found Johnson to keep the chains moving on several occasions during the 21-9 win.

Johnson’s burst of productivity has him closing in on the top 25 in NFL history in receptions and the top 30 in receiving yardage, numbers that he said don’t mean as much to him as the fact that the team is 7-1 halfway through the 2012 season.

“The only time I find out about stats is when I talk to the media,” Johnson said. “It’s an accomplishment, a great accomplishment, but winning is the thing.”

It felt at times on Sunday that the Texans were doing just enough to come out of the game with a victory. That won’t be enough to win against the Bears next Sunday, which makes it a good thing that Johnson is riding a hot streak into the marquee matchup of Week 10.


(profootballtalk.com)

HOUSTON—In the Texans’ first five games, receiver Andre Johnson caught 17 passes for 283 yards. He heard and read criticism that he was slowing down at 31, that hamstring injuries last season and a groin injury in preseason had taken a toll, and he couldn’t run the way he used to.

Johnson has turned those jeers into cheers over the last three games in which he’s caught 25 passes for 279 yards.

In the last two victories over Baltimore and Buffalo, Johnson has 17 receptions for 204 yards. Of those 17 receptions, 12 have produced first downs.

Johnson says he feels better than he did in camp and at the start of the season. Coach Gary Kubiak takes it easy on him in practice, preferring to save Johnson’s best for games.

Basically, Johnson says he’s getting more opportunities, and he’s taking advantage of them. Johnson usually attracts double coverage. Corners play on or off coverage, and there’s usually a safety over the top. If the defense is playing one safety, he’ll shift to Johnson’s side. Unless it’s a gifted cornerback like Antonio Cromartie of the New York Jets, defensive coordinators seldom put one player on Johnson.

In the victory over the Bills, Johnson caught eight passes for 118 yards. It was the 40th 10-yard game of his career. He’s played a key role in the Texans’ 7-1 record that’s the best in the AFC.

Johnson’s on a pace for 84 catches for 1,124 yards but only four touchdowns. His two touchdown receptions are three fewer than tight end Owen Daniels’ team-leading five. The one thing quarterback Matt Schaub has to do better over the second half is to get the ball to his best receiver in the red zone.


(sportingnews.com)

Andre Johnson caught eight passes for 118 yards in the Texans' Week 9 win over the Bills.

Johnson says he's finally feeling back to his old self and it showed today. He was open at will, eating up both Aaron Williams and rookie Stephon Gilmore. If the Texans needed to throw more, the numbers would have been much bigger. As it was, Johnson came within three yards of a touchdown and a truly massive game. He's now on pace for 84 catches, 1,124 yards and four touchdowns. Johnson is a good bet to top that pace when it's said and done despite a brutal matchup in Chicago next week.


(rotoworld.com)

Andre Johnson racked up nine catches for 86 yards in the Texans' Week 7 win over the Ravens.

Although Johnson isn't yet hitting big plays down the football field, he's now racked up 17 receptions and 75-or-more yards in his last two games. He's certainly still an imposing presence out wide, even if Johnson has lost a step or two in terms of vertical route running. The Texans have a Week 8 bye, and Johnson should have no trouble roasting the Bills' defense in Week 9.


(rotoworld.com)

HOUSTON—Andre Johnson has heard the speculation.

Six games into a season in which the 31-year-old receiver has 25 catches for 358 yards and two touchdowns, fans and media want to know why he’s not getting the ball more. Is he open and quarterback Matt Schaub can’t find him? Is he not getting open because of double coverage? Is he not getting open despite being covered by only one cornerback?

The Texans say it’s because they’re running more, and Johnson is being doubled most of the time. As the play caller, coach Gary Kubiak says he has to do a better job of getting the ball to Johnson. But Schaub, who has only eight touchdown passes, is throwing the ball away more than in the past. Too often, he gets good protection but can’t find an open receiver.

Johnson is on a pace for 66 catches, which would tie his career low if he plays 16 games. He’s on a pace for 954 yards, which would be the fewest of his career when he plays 16 games. Johnson says he has to take advantage of the opportunities he gets, and when they’re running so well and winning, he’s not going to complain about his role. Johnson says he’s healthy. He participates in every practice. He had eight catches for 75 yards against the Packers to reach 10,000 yards (10,014) in his career, but he couldn’t enjoy it because of the 42-24 Green Bay victory.


(sportingnews.com)

Everybody knows Andre Johnson is one of the best. Now the Texans wide receiver has a big milestone to add to his resume.

Johnson surpassed 10,000 receiving yards for his career during the fourth quarter Sunday night. He became the 38th player in NFL history to do so, but he said he does not plan to celebrate.

“It’s a big accomplishment, but the way things played out (tonight) it doesn’t feel good,” he said.

It took Johnson 128 games to reach 10,000 yards. That makes him the sixth-fastest player to get to 10,000.

Johnson now has 731 receptions for 10,014 receiving yards in his career. Johnson has led the NFL in receiving yards twice and in receptions twice. In 2008, he led in both categories.

Sunday night was Johnson’s best game since the season opener against. He had eight receptions that day but had nine combined in the four games that followed. On Sunday, he had eight receptions for 75 yards.

Johnson said he has been living a dream for the last decade.

“You don’t know what you’re going to do when you get into this league,” Johnson said. “The life span of this league is four years. I’ve been fortunate to be here for 10 seasons.”


(chron.com)

The Houston Texans' offense is known for its "Big Three" ... but is that really the case anymore?

Quarterback Matt Schaub is playing at an All-Pro level, and Arian Foster is entrenched as the NFL's preeminent workhorse back. Wide receiver Andre Johnson is supposed to complete this trinity. He hasn't carried his share of the weight through five games.

Johnson was largely neutralized Monday night by the New York Jets' Antonio Cromartie, a good, but not great, cornerback. NFL.com and NFL Network's Michael Lombardi wrote in his latest "Front Office View" column that Johnson "does not look like the same player."

Wrote Lombardi: "Johnson cannot run, burst or make sharp cuts, which has been the case since his hamstring injury."

Johnson's decreased production supports Lombardi's opinion. Through Week 5, Johnson has 17 receptions for 286 yards and two touchdowns. By way of comparison, here was Johnson's statline through five games in 2009, the last time he played 16 games: 28 receptions, 437 yards and four touchdowns.

Johnson still can produce, but at 31, it's fair to wonder if his best days are behind him.


(nfl.com)

Coach Gary Kubiak said he's "got to a better job of getting [Andre Johnson] involved."

Over the last four games, Johnson is averaging 2.2 catches for 41.0 yards with one touchdown. His 31 targets on the season rank 50th in the league, a reminder that the Texans run to win now and often take the air out of the ball while nursing leads. "Other guys are making plays because of Andre, I can tell you that, because they're paying so much attention to him, but still need to get him more involved with what we're doing, so that's my responsibility," Kubiak said. The Texans figure to need some extra scoring against the Packers this Sunday night.


(rotoworld.com)

HOUSTON — Larry Coker, the former Miami Hurricanes' coach, admits Houston Texans receiver Andre Johnson was “a little hard to get to know.” That was because, and it remains the case today, Johnson doesn't say a whole lot ... with his mouth.

As Coker came to realize, though, Johnson's attitude, attention to detail and unwavering accountability — in the classroom, too, not just on the practice field — were sufficiently eloquent.

“I still hold him up as an example when I'm talking to my kids today,” said Coker, now in his second season of building a football program from scratch at UTSA. “Andre's size, speed and athleticism set him apart, but it's the other stuff you remember. You want all your players to take care of business like he did. He hasn't changed any, has he?”

No, coach, he hasn't.

“Every day, ever since I've been here, it's hard to get Andre to say anything, let alone complain,” Texans offensive coordinator Rick Dennison said. “He never complains. He just works.”

Johnson is a full decade into his Texans career and likely just one ordinary — for him — game shy of 10,000 receiving yards. He goes to New Jersey to play the Jets on the cusp of becoming the sixth-fastest player in NFL history to get there.

Johnson needs 76 yards Monday night. Over the 126 games he has played, his average is 77.5. That's the second highest behind Marvin Harrison, who spent his career catching passes from Peyton Manning.

Johnson's quarterback for his first four pro seasons was David Carr on a talent-thin, confidence-shy expansion team. It took him until the end of that fourth year as a Texan before he could celebrate as many pro victories as he enjoyed in two seasons at Miami. Still, he calls himself “fortunate” to have remained a Texan, to have been an integral “part of building something.”

“In this day and time, for a player to stay the course with an expansion franchise like he did through some very tough times tells you what he's all about as person,” Texans coach Gary Kubiak said. “His career has been excellent, but we're all happy we finally gave him a good football team to work with.”

Johnson admits he's proud of his prodigious statistics.

“(They say) I've been able to do something very productive since I've been here playing,” he said. “That means a lot.”


(mysanantonio.com)

Andre Johnson and Arian Foster were limited for rest purposes in Wednesday's practice, and will return to full sessions on Thursday.

The engines of the Texans offense needed a breather after Sunday's physical tilt with the Broncos. Foster's 294 rushing yards are sixth in the league through three weeks, while Johnson's 212 receiving yards are 26th. Johnson could be in for a breakout week against the Titans' 30th ranked pass defense.


(rotoworld.com)

During the Texans’ 31-25 win over the Broncos on Sunday, Matt Schaub used boot action to target Andre Johnson down the field for a 60-yard TD. Today, let’s look at the “All-22” coaches film to breakdown the route, coverage and get into some coaching points.

Texans vs. Broncos Personnel: Ace (2WR-2TE-1RB) Formation: Bunch Route scheme: “Swap” Boot



- Before we get into the Xs and Os of the route, check out the field position. 1st and 20 situation (following a penalty) with the ball on or near the 40-yard line. This is prime field position to take a vertical shot.

- WR Splits always tell you a story from a defensive perspective. Look at Johnson to the open (weak) side of the formation. He is in a “reduced” (or “nasty&rdquo split. With the bunch to the closed (strong) side, this is an automatic alert for a boot concept.

- In a “Swap” Boot, the offense will bring a player back under the line of scrimmage to work to the open side flat. With “Ace” personnel on the field, the Texans use closed side run action and roll Schaub weak.



-This is multiple breaking route from Johnson. The WR will take a hard inside release, push up the field, stem to the 7 (create separation vs. the CB playing with an outside shade) and then work back to the 8 (post).

- The technique (and depth) of the FS is crucial. It’s tough when you are a middle of the field defender to stay away from the “bait” underneath (TE on intermediate crossing route). However, with No.1 (Johnson) working up the field, you have to keep your depth and only drive downhill on the throw from the QB.



-The open side CB, Tracy Porter, is beat. Because of the stem from Johnson, we now see Porter stuck low and to the outside in a “trail position” vs. a deep inside breaking route (Post). 

- Focus on the FS, Mike Adams. If he maintains his depth and uses a “open angle” technique (open hips to the receiver), he can turn and run to match Johnson down the field. However, when Adams breaks downhill to the TE on the underneath crossing route, Porter is hung out to dry.


- This is an easy read for Schaub off the boot action. With Adams now removed from the deep middle of the field and Johnson stacking on top of Porter, the Texans’ QB can target the WR on the post. Another example of why the discipline of the FS is key to seeing success in any single high safety defense.

(nationalfootballpost.com)

Edged by his opponent on the scoreboard for the second straight week, Denver Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey knows full well that his defense desperately needs to tighten things up going forward in order to win games. The 11-time Pro Bowler made it quite clear to DenverBroncos.com that big plays in the passing game continue to serve as the team's Achilles' heel at the moment.

"We’ve got to start faster," Bailey said. "I felt like the first five minutes, we were good. Then all of a sudden, they throw two balls over our head. We can’t live with that."

Although Bailey and company were able to limit Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson to just two receptions on the afternoon, a key catch by the superstar wideout over the outstretched hand of Bailey ultimately allowed the Texans to kill much of the clock late in the fourth.

"I was right there," Bailey said. "It’s just two good players making plays. Once I started following [Johnson] around, he didn’t have a catch in crunch time. He made it happen. I’ve got to give him a lot of credit for that."

While it's hard to believe that leaders like Bailey and quarterback Peyton Manning won't find a way to turn their respective units around in the coming weeks, Bailey is spot-on in his assessment of how debilitating Denver's slow starts have been this year. Eager to claw their way back to .500 with a win, the Broncos should have an opportunity to turn things around in Week 4 against an Oakland Raiders team still trying to find its identity despite a last-second win over the Steelers on Sunday.


(sbnation.com)

Andre Johnson caught two passes for 72 yards and a touchdown in Houston's Week 3 win over the Broncos.

Johnson schooled Broncos RCB Tracy Porter on the game's second drive, getting behind the entire defense for a 60-yard touchdown. Johnson was targeted only four times, but came within inches of another long score early in the second half, barely losing a one-on-one battle with Champ Bailey in the end zone. Johnson has now been limited to two catches in back-to-back games, but it's been primarily a function of the Texans taking the air out of the ball as they nurse big leads. With 212 yards and two touchdowns through three weeks, he's still locked and loaded as a WR1.


(rotoworld.com)

HOUSTON– Sometimes the margin of error for a cornerback is so small it is barely noticeable.

Its turning his head around a second too late; an outstretched hand in a defender's face; or jamming a receiver's inside shoulder instead of the outside. Sometimes it is those missteps that lead to a big reception -- or touchdown.

Against elite NFL receivers those mistakes get magnified. That was the case for Dolphins cornerback Sean Smith who allowed Andre Johnson to score a 14-yard touchdown in the final 12 seconds of the second-quarter of Sunday's 30-10 loss.

Smith, who is in the final year of his rookie contract, was so bothered by his performance on Johnson's score he punched his locker upon leaving the Texans locker room.

"On that touchdown I turned my head back way too late," Smith said. "When I turned my head back late the ball was behind me."

And placed in a beautiful spot by quarterback Matt Schaub, where only Johnson could have caught the first down pass, which came two plays after the Dolphins' third straight turnover in that quarter's final five minutes.

Johnson, whose average yards per game (79.5) is the highest in NFL history, hawked down the pass and tiptoeing inside the edge of the end zone to give Houston a 24-3 lead.

"I know what I'm capable of doing," said Johnson, who caught eight of the 10 passes thrown his way for 119 yards and a score. It was his 39th 100-yard game in his 10 seasons.

The former University of Miami standout's biggest reception came on a 29-yard grab in the third quarter, where he beat safety Jimmy Wilson, who was filling in as Miami's fourth cornerback.

"I just go out and make the most of my opportunities," Johnson said.

Smith didn't have many opportunities to cover Johnson, who primarily works on the opposite side of the field. But coach Joe Philbin was critical of the one instance where the team's top cornerback was on duty.

"I'm disappointed on the last play of the half. They scored with 12 second left on the clock, they didn't have any timeouts," Philbin said. "You know the ball is going into the end zone. That's not good football."

Johnson wasn't the only Texan doing big things against Miami's defense, which allowed 337 yards. Tight end Owen Daniels caught four of eight passes thrown his way, contributing 87 of Schaub's 266 passing yards.

"This film is going to be tough to watch," Smith admitted. "The first half we came out on all cylinders. We were stopping the run and getting them off the field. Then we dug a hole for ourselves and it went downhill from there."

Smith's referring to the three back-to-back turnovers that closed the first half. The Texans turned thought three turnovers into two rushing touchdowns from Arian Foster and then Johnson's 14-yard score.

"You have to get your hands on him early," said new Dolphins safety Troy Nolan, who spent the past two seasons practicing against Johnson as a member of the Texans, and passed on his tips to his new teammates. "Andre can't get a free release on the ball. You have to get your hands on him and disrupt him any way you can.

"Watching film doesn't tell the whole story. He's been doing great things in this league for a long time, playing at a high level. There is nothing a player like that can hide."

And also nowhere a defender covering him one-on-one can hide. That's certainly been the case for the Dolphins considering Johnson's caught 45 passes for 638 yards and scored five touchdowns in the six games he's played against the Dolphins, all of which have resulted in wins.

"If you're a competitor you definitely want to go against a great receiver," said Smith, who was on Johnson the two times he didn't bring in balls thrown his way. "I'll see him again."


(sun-sentinel.com)

HOUSTON (AP) — Andre Johnson got to make his NFL debut in his hometown when the Houston Texans opened the 2003 season in Miami.

Big underdogs, the Texans upset the Dolphins 21-20 that day and Johnson made six catches to begin what now seems to be a Hall of Fame career.

Houston opens with Miami again on Sunday, this time at Reliant Stadium. The Texans are the heavy favorites now and harbor Super Bowl aspirations, like the Dolphins did that year. But Johnson has seen too many bad things happen to the franchise to take anything for granted.

"You just can't get caught up in what people say," Johnson said. "When I think about this game, I think about my rookie year, when we went down there and played them and everybody was saying they were going to win the Super Bowl. We didn't have a chance. One article said it was going to be like a scrimmage game. We went out and beat them."

"You can't overlook anybody in this league," he said. "I know that and we know that as a team. We're going to go out there and play the way we know how to play. That's basically it."

Johnson is entering his 10th NFL season since Houston drafted him with the third overall pick. He's the only player on the roster who was here when Gary Kubiak became the coach in 2006, so he's been around for just about all of the Texans' darkest days.

But Johnson never lost faith, signing a contract extension before the 2010 season that could keep him here through 2016. The five-time Pro Bowl selection has nothing more to accomplish individually, and the only goal left is playing long enough to see the franchise win a championship.

"The window is not as big as it used to be," he said. "As time goes on, you definitely feel a sense of urgency, but it's nothing you really can rush. You just have to take care of the task at hand. I would love to win a Super Bowl before I hang up my cleats, but you know, it's not going to just take me. It's going to take everybody in that locker room to get it done. We all have the same goal in mind and we're going to do our best to try and accomplish it."

Johnson topped 1,500 yards receiving to lead the league in 2008 and '09. He played most of the 2010 season with a badly sprained right ankle, then missed nine games last season with hamstring injuries. He underwent arthroscopic left knee surgery in the spring and turned 31 in the summer, but he long ago tuned out talk about his durability.

"I said that coming into camp, that everybody is saying that I'm old and I probably can't play anymore and that I'm injury-prone," he said. "Things happen. That was out of my control. I can't control that. I can't control what happens. I think, as players, if we could control that, there wouldn't be any injuries. It happens and I move on from it."

He seemed to be back to his old form in his limited action in the preseason, making four catches, including a 43-yarder in which he wrestled possession away from two defenders.

"When I'm out on the field," he said, "as you see in preseason when I was able to play, I went out and made plays. People can say what they want. I really don't care."

The Texans are grooming undrafted free agent Lestar Jean and draft picks DeVier Posey and Keshawn Martin as some of the franchise's receivers of the future. Johnson has been happy to mentor them during training camp, while he nursed some minor injuries.

The real games are here now, and Johnson is healthy and ready to return to what he does best.

"I think the older you get, the more ready you are to play games, just ready to hurry up and get the preseason games over with," he said. "You pretty much know what to expect. This is my 10th season, so you just want to get training camp out of the way. The real games are finally here. I'm excited about it and I'll be ready to go on Sunday."


(ap.org)

The Houston Texans won’t say it publicly, but they’re entering the season concerned about receiver Andre Johnson’s health.

They know their best chance to challenge for the Super Bowl is to have quarterback Matt Schaub’s favorite target in the lineup for 16 games. The problem is that Johnson hasn’t played 16 games since 2009.

Knee and hamstring injuries have limited him to a total of 20 starts over the past two seasons. Johnson turned 31 in July and missed organized team activities and minicamp because of arthroscopic knee surgery. He was 100 percent entering camp but suffered a minor groin injury that kept him out.

In the third preseason game, he came down on the point of the football and had to leave the game for X-rays on his ribs that were negative. However, he missed a couple of days of practice and sat out the preseason finale. He ended up playing about one full game in preseason.

What frustrates the team the most is that Johnson still is outstanding—when he plays. He averaged 19.4 yards on four catches in preseason.

There’s no doubt Johnson still can be one of the league’s top receivers when he’s on the field, and his health remains the single most important issue for a team hoping to reach its first Super Bowl.


(sportingnews.com)

Andre Johnson did not participate in Monday’s light practice.

Johnson landed on part of the football Saturday while attempting to make a catch in New Orleans. He lost his breath for a second and left the game to have precautionary tests run.

Johnson said after the game that he did not have soreness in his ribs, but that might have changed.  Gary Kubiak said Johnson was sore today.

Chris Myers, who was feeling ill and didn’t finish Saturday’s game, did not practice and neither did Brian Cushing, who bruised his ribs against the San Francisco 49ers. Kubiak said all three will be available week 1.


(chron.com)

Andre Johnson exited the Texans' third preseason game early in the first half after having the wind knocked out of him.

Worry spread across Twitter and fantasy land Saturday night when Johnson exited against the Saints, but he's fine. Johnson will not reenter tonight. The 31-year-old had two catches for 30 yards in the Superdome, following a two-catch, 49-yard second preseason game. We like Johnson as a top-five WR1 for 2012.


(rotoworld.com)

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- One of the Houston Texans' most popular players is dealing with domestic and legal trouble.

We're hearing from attorneys for the mother of Andre Johnson's child, and they're telling her side of the story. She's asking for more child support and wants to move out of state with their daughter. The Texans spokesperson says they haven't seen a lawsuit and aren't commenting right now.

The lawsuit was filed in Harris County court on Tuesday but attorneys for the Texans star wide receiver's longtime girlfriend say the two have been separated since January.

"This case is really about accountability. Accountability both with respect to doing the right thing as a father, as a parent, financially and addressing the many promises that were broken to her," attorney Robert Hoffman said.

Dionne Reese hired high-profile attorneys Robert Hoffman and Earle Lilly, who also represented Cynthia Rodriguez in her divorce against NY Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez.

"I don't think you're going to find any physical violence. No one's claiming it and I don't think it's an issue in the case but you're going to find a lot of emotional issues," Lilly said.

The lawsuit filed on behalf of Reese asks for custody of their three-and-a-half-year-old daughter. Reese also claims she's been the subject of "intentional infliction of emotional distress." She's also suing Johnson for "breach of fiduciary duty" resulting in "damages exceeding millions of dollars."

"I think there is no question celebrity status will be a part of this case because that's who Mr. Johnson is," Hoffman said.

Attorneys for Reese say this isn't the first filing, that an earlier document was filed by Johnson's attorney in a parent/child case but the filing used only the initials of the parties involved, leading Reese's attorneys to say in the court documents, "There are no secret lawsuits."

"We have now brought the names out and we have filed an amended petition," Hoffman said.

Reese also claims Johnson recanted "reasonable child support" and has "earned millions of dollars in income as a professional football player," suggesting "$1,500 per month is sufficient" for his young daughter.

"We're trying to keep this down to a mild roar for the benefit of this child. If they want peace, they can get peace," Lilly said.

We made calls after the end of the business day but have not heard back yet from his attorney or his agent.

Again the Texans say they have no knowledge of the legal documents so do not have a comment at this time.


(abclocal.go.com)

Though Texans WR Andre Johnson played just a couple of series, he looked great, hauling in two catches for 49 yards, 43 of which came on a play where he beat double coverage. Good news for Johnson, who is recovering from a groin injury.



(usatoday.com)

Receiver Andre Johnson, who was kept out of the Carolina game to protect what had been a sore groin, hopes to play against San Francisco on Saturday.

“If the coaches want me to play, I’ll play,” he said. “If not, I’ll be sitting on the sideline. It’s not my decision.”

Johnson was replaced by Keshawn Martin, the fourth-round pick from Michigan State. He had two catches for 24 yards and ran once for 12 yards.

“Keshawn is a guy that doesn’t say anything,” Johnson said. “Everybody has always said that I’m quiet. He’s quieter than me. You have to really pull things out of him to get him to talk, but he has a lot of talent. Since he’s been here, he’s been making lots of plays.”


(chron.com)

Andre Johnson’s rookie year was a long, long time ago, but he still remembers his very first practice when he was thrown into a role as a starting receiver.

The first-team offense huddled. Johnson stood and watched them.

“I was just standing around looking,” Johnson said. “Coach Kippy Brown looked at me and I was like what the hell are you doing? Get in there.

“I really didn’t have a veteran guy to look up to when I first got here. It was kind of tough at first. You have to learn a lot of things on your own. I was able to see veteran guys during the offseason and talk to them a little bit. Talk to guys I played with.”

The four-time All-Pro selection did just fine on his own, but he’s able to pass along some of what he learned to the gaggle of young receivers on the Texans’ roster. That means their transition will be easier than his was.

He feels comfortable letting them know when they mess up.

“I think when you tell people the truth, I think they respect you for it,” Johnson said. “I don’t have a problem with them telling me the truth just because they’re a rookie. I tell them that if you see me doing something wrong, tell me. I want to know because I want to get better as a player. I think that’s the only way you get better. I think that if you don’t tell them the truth and if you tell them they’re doing something good and they’re really not, then they’re not going to get better as player. That’s one thing we do around here. We tell each other the truth about what’s going on.”


(chron.com)

Last night’s game led to plenty of talk about how the Texans defense was ahead of its offense right now.

It’s true, but a big part of it involved the personnel. You didn’t see much of running back Arian Foster, and receiver Andre Johnson wasn’t active.

That is expected to change this weekend against the San Francisco 49ers.

“It’s Sunday, but yeah, he should play,” Kubiak said of Johnson. “If everything goes according to schedule, he should play this week.”

In the Texans’ second preseason game, Kubiak plans to play the first team for a quarter and a half. Johnson won’t get quite that much time.

Johnson said during a sideline interview in Charlotte that he could have played Saturday night. Kubiak concurred, but said it just didn’t make sense to risk playing Johnson given that he’s behind in practice reps. Add to that the fact that Kubiak is already having difficulty getting enough reps for his evaluations of the young receivers and you have more reasons to sit Johnson than play him.


(chron.com)

HOUSTON—Andre Johnson waited nearly a decade before he could dip into the NFL postseason pool, and now that he’s made his initial splash, he’s determined to dive a lot deeper.

Since the Houston Texans drafted Johnson No. 3 overall in 2003, the wide receiver has stuck it out through the team’s inconsistency and his own injuries to endure as the face of the franchise for nine stellar seasons. Because of two hamstring injuries that caused him to miss nine games a year ago, he didn't add to his five Pro Bowl appearances, but the end of the season brought a much more desired reward.

“That was a goal of mine to get this organization to its first playoff berth,” Johnson said. “We did that, won our first playoff game, and we played a great game in Baltimore (in the divisional round)—just came up a play short.

“It definitely makes you hungry. It was a great experience. You want to not only experience that again, but experience more, keep winning and hopefully accomplish that ultimate goal.”

The big question for Johnson going into 2012 is his health. At 31, he’s had a lot of wear and tear, missing 12 games over the past two seasons with leg injuries. After undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in May, he wasn't able to participate in the Texans’ organized team activities and minicamp. Early in training camp, he fought through a groin injury to get back on the field.

Not surprisingly, the Texans are being cautious with their offensive difference-maker. After returning on Monday from the groin injury, he was limited to 20 plays per day in practice—and he's not expected to play in Saturday's exhibition opener at Carolina. The Texans need Johnson at full strength to start the regular season, and he's working to get there.

While he's been busy rehabbing for most of the offseason, he has kept one thing in the back of his mind—a return to the postseason.

“Every year, the goal has been the Super Bowl. I didn’t think it would take this long,” Johnson said. “Hopefully, we will get it done this year.”

The small taste of playoff success hasn’t spoiled Johnson or changed his approach toward what he likes to do more than anything—strive to stand out at wideout.

“He’s still the same guy. He’s going to come here, week in and week out, and put in the work, and that’s why he’s the best receiver in the league,” said Texans center Chris Myers, a college teammate of Johnson’s at the University of Miami and has played with him in Houston since ’08. “Going back to college—and I played against him in high school (in Miami), too—he’s been that way his whole career.”

While it could be natural for there to be an emotional letdown after the high of the Texans’ first division title, Johnson remains even-keeled.

“That’s the one thing great about having a guy like that, a franchise receiver—he’s going to be here no matter what,” Myers said. “Win, lose or draw, he’s going to be that same person.”

Matt Schaub has spent five years throwing to Johnson as his primary receiver with the Texans. While Johnson has helped Schaub settle in as one of the league’s better starting quarterbacks, he has impressed his passer with the most underrated part of his game.

“I don’t know if it’s overlooked because people don’t see it every day, but it’s his work ethic,” Schaub said. “He is one of the hardest workers I’ve been around. He doesn’t talk or say a lot, but he just goes out and plays. It’s all about the team for him. When your No. 1 guy is like that, it makes everything work that much easier.”

Not that it should be a surprise, but expect Schaub and the Texans’ passing game to continue to lean heavily on Johnson in ’12. After Johnson, fellow starting wideout Kevin Walter and tight end Owen Daniels, there is big drop-off in experience within Houston’s receiving corps.

Consider that rookie Keshawn Martin, a fourth-round pick, is leading the training camp battle over several other youngsters for the No. 3 wideout job. Martin has been praised by coach Gary Kubiak for his combination of explosiveness and surprising maturity.

Johnson, with his experience and big-play history, is also doing his best to serve the Texans’ youth with his knowledge, knowing that Martin and others will be called upon to help the team move closer to its goal.

“You never think that you’re going to be the old guy, and right now I’m the oldest guy in the room,” Johnson said. “I try to go out and teach those guys everything I can because those guys have to be out there Sunday making plays to help us win.”

After enduring the two hamstring injuries last season, Johnson showed just how much pop he had left by coming back strong in the playoffs. He had a 40-yard touchdown catch in the wild-card win over the Cincinnati Bengals and was effective in defeat (eight receptions for 111 yards) against a good Baltimore secondary.

Even though it might seem like he’s reached the peak of playing wide receiver, he won’t be satisfied with his individual game until it factors into more sustained playoff success for the Texans.

“I’ve always been motivated to get out here and get better as a player,” Johnson said. “Football is a game I love, and whenever I’m out here, I’m going to do whatever I can to make the team become better. “

Johnson has the same football drive he’s always had. A postseason trip has just accelerated that mentality.

“Andre’s always been that quiet guy, but you could get a sense last year, when we got to the playoffs, he was that much more anxious,” Myers said. “He wants to build upon that.”

With the championship window of opportunity starting to shrink for the Texans’ best all-time player, Johnson is aware his time needs to be now—and that feeling is shared by his teammates.

“With him going into Year 10 in the league, his years are getting a little slimmer now, so he wants to be able to produce and get this team back where it’s supposed to be,” Myers said. “He’s the most tenured guy on this team, and everyone wants to win for him as well.”


(sportingnews.com)

If you listen to a lot of fans and some members of the Houston media, Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson sounds like a cinch to be voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The truth is that Johnson is on the right path, but he has a long way to go if he wants to be enshrined in Canton, Ohio, when his eligibility begins five years after his NFL career ends.

A survey of some members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame over the weekend shows that Johnson has everything it takes to be inducted, but the one question involves his durability.

“Andre’s a great, great player, but there’s the question of injuries,” said former defensive end Howie Long, an NFL studio analyst for Fox Sports. “If he stays healthy, I think he can (make it).”

Johnson is entering his 10th season. He has missed 12 games the last two seasons, including nine in the 2011 regular season. Hamstring injuries limited him to 33 catches for 492 yards and two touchdowns, but he bounced back in the playoffs. In the victory over Cincinnati and the loss at Baltimore, Johnson had 13 catches for 201 yards and a touchdown.

Best at position Former tackle Dan Dierdorf, a color analyst for CBS, has seen a lot of Texans games. He was reminded of something his mentor, the late Jack Buck, told him years ago.

“Talking about the prerequisites of being a Hall of Famer, Jack said you can’t get caught up in numbers,” Dierdorf said. “Jack said at one point during your career, you should have been considered the best in the league at your position.

“When you’re looking at receivers, I think you have to ask that question rather than just focus on numbers. Because some have big numbers but were never considered the best at their position.

“When you ask that question about Andre Johnson, the answer is affirmative. He has been and may still be considered the best receiver in the game. I think that makes him an automatic.”

Former Oilers quarterback Warren Moon is a game analyst for the Seattle Seahawks’ radio network. He has special affection for the league’s best receivers.

“For the last five, six years, he’s been one of the best in the league,” Moon said. “When he’s healthy, he’s as consistent as anybody. And he can do everything you want in a receiver.

“He got some playoff exposure last year, and he did well. Now he needs to do more of it on the playoff stage and in national TV games. Getting that kind of consistent exposure will increase his chances.”

Numbers no guarantee Johnson is the only receiver to have at least 60 catches in each of his first eight seasons. He has 706 catches for 9,656 yards and 52 touchdowns.
In recent years, it has been difficult for receivers to be elected. Cris Carter (1,101 catches for 13,899 yards), Tim Brown (1,094 for 14,934) and Andre Reed (951 for 13,198, four Super Bowls) are among the great receivers who have been passed over.

“There are a lot of great receivers who have put up big numbers, but they’re still not in it,” said Johnson, who is supposed to return to practice Monday after missing time with a minor groin strain. “All I can do is to play as hard as I can for as long as I can and help us win, and the rest will take care of itself.

“It (induction) is a goal, definitely something I’d like to be part of, but right now, I don’t think about it much because I don’t plan on retiring any time soon. I plan to keep playing at a high level for as long as I can.
“When that time (Hall of Fame eligibility) comes, hopefully, I’ll make it.”

Winning helps cause Former cornerback Mike Haynes, who works for the NFL, believes Johnson is headed in the right direction but isn’t guaranteed of enshrinement.

“Andre needs to keep doing what he’s been doing,” Haynes said. “I don’t see that he needs to do a whole lot more. He’s got a great track record for coming up with plays when they need them the most. He’s got to keep putting up those kinds of numbers. Even if the team doesn’t win, I think he’s got a shot, but if they continue to win, it’ll help him for sure.”

Texans’ system good fit Bill Parcells, a finalist this year who fell short of induction, presented Curtis Martin, his former running back, on Saturday.

“Durability’s the key,” Parcells said about Johnson. “He just needs to stay on the field. He’s got a good situation with his quarterback (Matt Schaub) and coach (Gary Kubiak). They know how to use him, and that system is good for him because they throw the ball a lot.”

Former safety Ken Houston, who resides in Houston, watches the Texans as much as he can.

“I think Andre’s right there,” Houston said. “He’s got size, speed and talent. He’s gotten national recognition for being the best or one of the best receivers in recent years.

“Now that the Texans are winning, he’s going to get even more recognition. If he can continue to play at a high level for another three or four years, he can make it.”


(chron.com)

Eight days after suffering a groin injury in practice, Texans receiver Andre Johnson is back.  But he’s still not really back.

Coach Gary Kubiak said after practice on Monday that the Texans will be using Johnson sparingly, for now.

“We put a play count on him, so we’re going to do that as the week goes on,” Kubiak said, in comments distributed by the team.  ”It’s about getting him going again and not expecting him to go the full bore on the first day out.  I thought he held up well, and we’ll move forward tomorrow.”

The magic number seems to be 20.

“They just wanted to work me in,” Johnson said.  ”I took probably about 20 reps today, but they were kind of mixed in.  Sometimes I went in for two or three plays in a row.  They did a great job of mixing it up.  The practice went fine.”

Kubiak said the team will decide on Thursday whether Johnson will participate in Saturday’s preseason opener at Carolina.

The Texans should rest the oft-injured Johnson now, because they need Johnson later.  Beyond him and Kevin Walter, there’s no receiver on the roster with any regular-season experience.


(profootballtalk.com)

The Texans finished their first full week of training camp on Saturday morning at the Methodist Training Center. When they return to practice on Monday morning, three injured starters will likely be back on the field.

Wide receiver Andre Johnson (groin), left tackle Duane Brown (ankle) and cornerback Kareem Jackson (hamstring), who all suffered injuries this week, are on track to return as the Texans prepare for their Aug. 11 preseason opener at Carolina.

“I expect all three of those guys back,” Texans coach Gary Kubiak said on Saturday. “Obviously, we’ll have a plan for them for how they come back, but I expect them all out on Monday.”

Johnson, a five-time Pro Bowler who’s entering his 10th NFL season, was the Texans’ first major injury scare of camp. After missing nine games with hamstring injuries in 2011 and having arthroscopic knee surgery in May, he pulled his groin on the second day of practice. He has been running with Texans head athletic trainer Geoff Kaplan since Thursday and said that his recovery is going well.

“I expect him to be on the field Monday,” Kubiak said. “It’s my job to put the plan together to how we bring him along next week, but I expect him to be out here.”


(houstontexans.com)

Texans coach Gary Kubiak said Tuesday that he hopes injured wide receiver Andre Johnson could return to the field next Monday.

Johnson pulled his groin while making a catch during Sunday morning’s training camp practice at the Methodist Training Center. An MRI revealed it to be a minor injury. The All-Pro receiver has been able to jog lightly at practice as he moves with the team from period to period.

“I would say next week,” Kubiak said of Johnson’s targeted return date. “I’d love to tell you that’s Monday. I hope it’s Monday, but I would say next week.”

With Johnson out, second-year receiver Lestar Jean has been practicing as a starter along with veteran Kevin Walter. Rookie third-round draft pick DeVier Posey has stood out in practice with several nice catches over the last two days.


(houstontexans.com)

Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson said Sunday that he'll miss "a week or so" after sustaining a minor groin injury in the team's second morning practice.

Johnson fell awkwardly while running a route Sunday morning and had an MRI exam later in the day that showed a "mild strain." A team source told NFL.com and NFL Network's Charley Casserly that Johnson would miss “a few practices.”

"It just tightened up on me," the five-time Pro Bowl receiver said. "I had hit the ground pretty hard, stretching out for a ball. That was pretty much it."

Johnson missed nine regular-season games last season with hamstring injuries and was sidelined from the first organized team activities in the spring after arthroscopic surgery on his left knee.

"Nothing that I'm not used to, doing rehab," Johnson said. "It's very frustrating, but it happens, man. I wish I had some control over it. Unfortunately, I don't."

Texans coach Gary Kubiak said Johnson wanted to continue practicing, but Kubiak took the cautious route. Johnson watched the rest of the outdoor half of the workout with a towel wrapped around his head, then went to Reliant Stadium when the practice moved indoors.

"I felt pretty good, because he wanted to go back out there," Kubiak said Sunday afternoon. "When a guy is telling you that, I don't think it's too bad."

On Sunday afternoon, Johnson wasn't even walking with a limp. He said he'll know "in a few days" when he'll be able to return to practice.

"Everybody's just saying, ‘Just be smart about it,’ " Johnson said. "You don't want to rush in, come back out here and have something happen again. We'll be smart about it, and see what happens."


(nfl.com)

We learned last week that Matt Schaub has been cleared for training camp by the Houston Texans.

The quarterback missed his team's final eight games after suffering a foot injury in November. Schaub underwent surgery and was held out of OTAs and minicamp as a precaution, but he's been working with Andre Johnson and other Texans receivers at the University of Houston.

"I'm 100 percent, ready to go, with no restrictions," Schaub said Monday, via the Houston Chronicle. "Andre looks great. He's also 100 percent and ready to go."
This is great news for the Texans, who were without Schaub, Johnson and running back Arian Foster at various points last season. When The Big 3 is on the field, the Texans can beat opponents in multiple ways.

"Our expectation level is higher than it's ever been, and all of us couldn't be more excited about getting back on the field," Schaub said.

Schaub told the Chronicle he's not worried about entering the final year of his contract, which makes sense. If he can stay healthy and lead the Texans to another AFC South crown, he'll have more leverage than ever.


(nfl.com)

NFL Films tape guru Greg Cosell still believes one receiver stands above Megatron. Here are Cosell's top five wideouts, according to a Monday blog post:

5. A.J. Green
4. Steve Smith
3. Larry Fitzgerald
2. Calvin Johnson
1. Andre Johnson

At first glance, Green sticks out, considering his lack of experience, though Cosell builds a case around Green's ceiling as an evolutionary Randy Moss. Arguments can be made for guys like Brandon Marshall, Victor Cruz, Wes Welker, Kenny Britt, Vincent Jackson, Greg Jennings and Roddy White.

As for the No. 1 spot, Cosell says a 2011 hamstring injury -- and the relative low profile that comes with playing for the Houston Texans -- makes it easy to forget how special Andre Johnson is. Cosell calls the difference between Andre Johnson and Calvin Johnson "microscopic," but says the Texans' Johnson is "more purely athletic and explosive."

"When you watch him on film, you see the quickness, lateral agility and short-area burst of a much smaller man," Cosell wrote. "... Talk to many receivers and defensive backs in the league, and they will tell you that his combination of size, speed and sheer athleticism is off the charts. They have never seen another receiver like him."

For our money, Calvin Johnson now is El Hombre when you factor in his resume, age and durability. But Cosell is right not to sleep on the other Johnson.


(nfl.com)

Chase Stuart is doing some interesting stuff at footballperspective.com.

The most recent entry of note looks at career weighted winning percentages for the 100 wide receivers with the most receiving yards in NFL history.

Of the 14 active players on the list, the top guy and the lowest-ranking guy both belong to the AFC South.

And they should come as no surprise.

Reggie Wayne is at No. 7, with a weighted winning percentage of .698. Thanks, Peyton Manning, Bill Polian and the Colts.

Andre Johnson is at No. 95, with a weighted winning percentage of .433. Thanks, expansion situation, Charley Casserly and David Carr.

Interestingly, Wayne and Johnson are friends, linked by the University of Miami.

They hold each other in high regard and hang out together when they can. They share relatively low-key, workman-like personalities.

Johnson’s “suffering” came to an end last season as he played in his first two playoff games. If he can stay healthy, the Texans may finally be in position to help him move up this list before he’s done.


(espn.com)

Four proCanes are ranked in the NFL Top 100 poll in spots 20-11. proCane Saints TE Jimmy Graham points himself out at Number 14.

Additionally, Frank Gore was ranked at Number 28, Devin Hester 48, Jon Vilma 58, Vince Wilfork 81, Willis McGahee 98.

When the Texans report for training camp in late July, they will have three areas of concern, and none is a surprise.

We know the Texans lack experience at backup wide receiver. We know they have new starters on the right side of their offensive line. And we know they’ll have a new kicker, punter, kickoff returner and punt returner.

If you ask me, though, the most important thing they can accomplish in camp and preseason, as well as the regular season, will be keeping Andre Johnson healthy.

Collectively, the Texans have put on a happy face about Johnson, who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery and missed organized team activities and the minicamp. Everyone insisted Johnson will be 100 percent and raring to go when the Texans report for camp.

But the sight of Johnson watching practice with a towel over his head – a sight the Texans saw too much last season when he missed nine games – has to worry the coaches and players.

Johnson, who turns 31 in July, is vital to what the Texans hope will be their most successful season, a season that would lead to the Super Bowl.
Johnson suffered hamstring injuries in both legs and missed nine starts last season, when the Texans finished 10-6 and won the AFC South for the first time. He was limited to 33 catches for 492 yards.

But Johnson was healthy in the playoffs. He had 13 catches for 201 yards in the victory over Cincinnati and the loss at Baltimore. If he did that with rookie T.J. Yates at quarterback, imagine what he could have done if Matt Schaub had been healthy.

Since Gary Kubiak became the Texans’ coach in 2006, Johnson has started 16 games three times (2006, 2008, 2009). He had at least 101 catches in each of those seasons, amassing career highs of 115 receptions and 1,575 yards in 2008.

If his knee hadn’t forced him to miss the last three games of the 2010 season, Johnson was almost guaranteed of a third consecutive season with at least 100 catches and 1,500 yards. In 13 starts that season, he had 86 receptions for 1,216 yards.

The Texans are hoping last season was an aberration for Johnson and not a sign his career is starting to decline. In 2003, his rookie season, he was a hit from day one, so there’s a lot of wear and tear on his wheels.

This is a time for Johnson to make his run for Canton. For several years now, he’s been acknowledged as one of the two best receivers in the NFL with Arizona’s Larry Fitzgerald. With the Texans playing five nationally televised games this season, including four in prime time, Johnson has an opportunity to regain his spot at the head of the receiver class.

If Johnson can stay healthy, the inexperience of Lestar Jean, DeVier Posey and Keshawn Martin won’t be as troubling.

If Johnson stays healthy, new starters on the offensive line and the rebuilt special teams won’t be as worrisome.

If I’m Kubiak, I’m telling Johnson to work on his conditioning but to take off in the preseason. I wouldn’t let him go full speed in practice until two weeks before the regular- season opener vs. Miami.

But Kubiak won’t do it. And Johnson wouldn’t accept that strategy, anyway, because that’s not the kind of player he is. He’s a competitor, and he knows he’s better on Sunday when he practices on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Since they became teammates in 2007, Schaub and Johnson have been as productive as any twosome in the league. Their health is paramount for the Texans to be a genuine Super Bowl contender for the first time.


(chron.com)

Happy Tuesday, everybody. Out here in Southern California the car flags are changing colors from Los Angeles Lakers Yellow, to Los Angeles Kings Black. But let’s take a look at some of the latest fantasy news.

And in news as shocking as a Kim Kardashian publicity stunt, our man, Dre Johnson is out for the Texans’ OTAs because of knee surgery. If you’ve followed me at all in recent years, you know I love Dre. But it’s come to the point where you can’t trust him in fantasy football. Michael Fabiano had a great column on Monday about guys to be afraid of this year (based on reader’s responses). Dre would be near the top of my list (though he didn’t crack the reader’s top 10).

So let’s mix it up today, as I give you three reasons to fear Dre Day.

The injuries. I’ve had Dre in each of the past two seasons, and I’ve been mighty excited to have him on my squad each year. And each year, he’s been somewhat of a disappointment. Last year in particular was a true punch in the throat. Johnson played in only seven games and scored a career-low two touchdowns. I would be willing to blame his hamstring problems from last year on the lockout (because it’s convenient), but a knee scope combined with his history of injury would make me lean towards a guy like Hakeem Nicks instead.
And yes smarty, Nicks has injury concerns, too. But at least he’s six years younger.

The running game. I can deal with Arian Foster, who rushed for 1,224 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2011. Seriously, that’s no big deal. But then you realize Ben Tate nearly rushed for 1,000 yards, too. The Texans have gone the opposite direction in an era of unprecedented passing totals in the NFL. The Texans’ offense is as hip as a Zack Morris mobile phone (though it is kind of cool in an ironic way). But simply put, in a digital world, the Texans’ offense is a telegraph. There is no reason for them to change this year, either. The AFC South could again be a bad division, which means big leads and some late grinding of the clock.

Matt Schaub. The Texans quarterback has his own injury concerns. If there are any problems in his return from Lisfranc surgery, we’re looking T.J. Yates 2.0 (which means I’m mixing my metaphors from above). Not that Yates can’t be a good quarterback — wait, he can’t be a good fantasy quarterback. The Texans would run the ball even more with Yates under center.

And here’s a bonus reason; there are some equal or better options out there. Ask yourself this question, would you rather have Johnson or Greg Jennings? The answer isn’t so simple when you consider one of them plays in the most pass-happy offense in the NFL and his quarterback is Aaron Rodgers.

When you factor in ADP, there is absolutely no question you would be better off waiting for Nicks, Jennings, or even my new favorite guy, Brandon Marshall (who has more receptions and yards over the last three seasons to go along with being reunited with Jay Cutler). I have Dre as my No. 7 receiver currently and you’d be wise to consider other options.

For the record, you can submit your fantasy questions to NFL Fantasy Live, Michael Fabiano or me on Twitter. But realize, NFL Fantasy Live has 40,000 followers, and Fabiano has 50,000. Me? Just 13. See, the odds are better that I will answer your question, so hit me up both via Twitter or via Facebook. Also be sure to catch the latest “Dave Dameshek Football Program.”


(nfl.com)

HOUSTON -- Texans star receiver Andre Johnson said Monday that he will be out for three to four weeks after arthroscopic surgery on his left knee.
The 30-year-old Johnson sat out Houston's first organized team practice, two weeks after the procedure.

"Right now, everything is just focusing on making sure everything is right before I get back out here," Johnson said. "Nothing to panic about."

The five-time Pro Bowl selection was inactive for nine regular-season games last year with injuries to both hamstrings. He says he hyperextended the knee against Jacksonville on Nov. 27, his first game back after he missed the previous six. He finished that game and also played the following week against Atlanta before going out with a second hamstring injury.

Johnson returned for Houston's playoff opener against Cincinnati, catching five passes for 90 yards and a touchdown. The Texans were eliminated a week later by Baltimore, and Johnson returned home to Miami to resume rehabilitating his hamstring injuries.

During that process, Johnson said fluid continued to develop around the knee, and he and the team decided to treat it with surgery.

"We thought it had kind of calmed down," Johnson said. "I was back out doing offseason workouts, just running around and stuff, and it just kind of swelled back up. We felt like that was the best thing to do, get the knee scoped, get it fixed."

Johnson said the knee injury won't delay his preparations for training camp later this summer.

"Right now, I'm feeling fine, the swelling's gone down a whole lot," he said.

Johnson also hurt the same knee in 2007, underwent arthroscopic surgery and missed spring workouts. He returned in time for training camp, then had his most productive season in 2008, making 115 catches for 1,575 yards and eight touchdowns.

He played through a badly sprained right ankle for most of 2010, sat out the final two games and had surgery after the season. Johnson is now entering his 10th season, but says he's not worried about his durability.

"The past two seasons have been pretty rough for me," Johnson said. "I just don't want to be back in that situation again, where I have to miss seven, eight, nine games. I want to get back to that '1,500-yard Andre.' Hopefully, that can happen this year."

As the practice began, Johnson and quarterback Matt Schaub tossed short passes to one another on a separate field from the team. Schaub also sat out Monday's workout as he recovers from surgery on his right foot, but coach Gary Kubiak said he was just being overly cautious with him.


(ap.com)

Deciding Miami led all FBS programs in producing quality NFL running backs was a tough call.

Picking Miami as the top school to find future pro receivers and tight ends wasn't nearly as difficult.

Miami's contingent of NFL wide receivers includes Houston Texans star Andre Johnson and Indianapolis Colts standout Reggie Wayne, who have each earned five Pro Bowl appearances while combining for 125 touchdown catches and over 21,000 receiving yards.

Other Miami receivers on NFL rosters last season included Devin Hester (Chicago Bears), Leonard Hankerson (Washington Redskins), Santana Moss (Washington Redskins) and Roscoe Parrish (Buffalo Bills, now with San Diego Chargers). Moss is a former 1,000-yard receiver, while Hester arguably is the greatest kick returner in NFL history.

Miami was an even more obvious pick at tight end. In fact, tight end may have been the easiest pick of any position for this entire project. Miami's tradition of sending tight ends to the NFL has even caught the attention of high school prospects.

"I felt like this is where I'm going to be the best and I'm going to reach my full potential," New Orleans (La.) Edna Karr junior tight end Standish Dobard told CaneSport.com after committing to the Hurricanes this month. "They have a history of really good tight ends here."

Former Miami tight ends now in the NFL include Dedrick Epps (New York Jets), Richard Gordon (Oakland Raiders), Jimmy Graham (New Orleans Saints), Greg Olsen (Carolina Panthers), Jeremy Shockey (Carolina Panthers) and Kellen Winslow (Tampa Bay Buccaneers). Shockey is a four-time Pro Bowl pick and Winslow has earned one Pro Bowl invitation.

But the biggest success story of all is Graham, who actually came to Miami on a basketball scholarship. He switched to football in 2009 and showed enough in that one season to get drafted in the third round.

All he did last season was catch 99 passes for 1,310 yards and 11 touchdowns. The only tight end to ever accumulate more receiving yards in a season was New England's Rob Gronkowski, who compiled 1,327 yards last year.

Although no other schools can approach Miami's success at developing NFL tight ends, a few other programs also deserve mention. Former Iowa tight ends Dallas Clark and Tony Moeaki have enjoyed solid NFL careers. Arizona State produced NFL veterans Todd Heap and Zach Miller. Future Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez joins Cameron Morrah and Craig Stevens as former California tight ends in the NFL. Wisconsin has sent Travis Beckum, Owen Daniels, Garrett Graham and Lance Kendricks to the NFL in recent seasons.

LSU was worth considering at the wide receiver spot. Dwayne Bowe has developed into a star for the Kansas City Chiefs. Early Doucet (Arizona Cardinals), Brandon LaFell (Carolina Panthers) and Devery Henderson (New Orleans Saints) each collected over 500 receiving yards last season.
But nobody compared to Miami at either position.

Even though Miami has enjoyed similar success at the wide receiver and tight end spots, the Hurricanes have relied on different strategies at each of those positions.

Most of the NFL receivers to come from Miami were South Florida products. Johnson and Parrish both played at Miami Senior High. Moss went to Miami Carol City. Hankerson graduated from Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas and Hester came from Riviera Beach (Fla.) Suncoast. A notable exception is Wayne, who went to Marrero (La.) John Ehret.

But most of its star tight ends didn't play for Florida high schools.

Olsen comes from New Jersey. Miami landed Shockey from Oklahoma. Winslow made the coast-to-coast move from San Diego to Miami. Graham's from North Carolina. Dobard looks to continue that tradition when he arrives at Miami in 2013.

Both strategies have worked quite well for Miami.

The only legitimate criticism that could be made about Miami's ability to send receivers and tight ends to the NFL is that many of its top guys at this position are at or past their primes.

Hankerson, a third-round pick last year, is the only Miami receiver to get drafted since 2007. Wayne ended his Miami career in 2000. Johnson's last two years at Miami were the 2001 national championship season and the 2002 campaign that ended with a Fiesta Bowl overtime loss to Ohio State.

And even though Graham has emerged as an immediate star in the NFL after a brief college career, most of Miami's other productive NFL tight ends left college long ago. Shockey's last season at Miami was 2001. Winslow finished his college career in 2004 and Olsen left Miami after the 2006 season.

Olsen, who caught 38 passes in 2006, was the last Miami tight end to catch more than 22 passes in a season. Miami's main pass-catching tight end last season was Clive Walford, who caught 18 passes for 172 yards as a redshirt freshman after playing just one year of high school football at Belle Glade (Fla.) Glades Central.

Tommy Streeter should assure that Miami has a wide receiver drafted for a second straight season. After catching 46 passes for 811 yards and eight touchdowns last year, Streeter has been projected as a mid- to late-round pick in this year's draft.

Miami might not have a tight end drafted anytime soon, mainly because of its youth at that position. Walford still has plenty of time left in his college career. Miami didn't sign a tight end in its 2012 class, but the Hurricanes rectified that issue by getting the early 2013 commitment from Dobard.
"I hope to be one of the best tight ends ever to come through Miami," Dobard told CaneSport.com.

That would be quite an accomplishment indeed.

WIDE RECEIVER U. 2012

Our choice: Miami.
Who they've sent: Leonard Hankerson (Washington Redskins), Devin Hester (Chicago Bears), Andre Johnson (Houston Texans), Santana Moss (Washington Redskins), Roscoe Parrish (San Diego Chargers), Reggie Wayne (Indianapolis Colts).
Who's next: Tommy Streeter is a projected mid- to late-round selection in this year's draft.
Why we picked them: Johnson and Wayne are two of the most productive receivers of the last decade. Each has five Pro Bowl appearances. They have combined for 125 touchdown catches and over 21,000 receiving yards. Moss also is a former Pro Bowl selection. Hester remains an unpolished receiver, but he's one of the best kick returners in football history.
Other finalists: Florida (Denver's Andre Caldwell, Philadelphia's Riley Cooper, Washington's Jabar Gaffney, Minnesota's Percy Harvin, Oakland's Louis Murphy, Buffalo's David Nelson), LSU (Kansas City's Dwayne Bowe, New York Giants' Michael Clayton, Arizona's Early Doucet, New Orleans' Devery Henderson, Houston's Trindon Holliday, Carolina's Brandon LaFell, Detroit's Terrence Toliver), Michigan (New Orleans' Adrian Arrington, Philadelphia's Jason Avant, Kansas City's Steve Breaston, San Francisco's Mario Manningham), Ohio State (San Francisco's Ted Ginn, New England's Anthony Gonzalez, Miami's Brian Hartline, New York Jets' Santonio Holmes, Minnesota's Michael Jenkins)
Candidate you might not have considered: Tennessee, Texas Tech.

TIGHT END U. 2012

Our choice: Miami.
Who they've sent: Richard Gordon (Oakland Raiders), Jimmy Graham (New Orleans Saints), Greg Olsen (Carolina Panthers), Jeremy Shockey (free agent), Kellen Winslow Jr. (Tampa Bay Buccaneers).
Who's next: Nobody's on the horizon. Miami's top pass catching tight end last year was Clive Walford, a redshirt freshman in 2011.
Why we picked them: Miami would have been the clear pick even if we'd done this a year ago, before Graham delivered a breakthrough season in which he caught 99 passes. Graham, Shockey and Winslow have all earned Pro Bowl invitations at some point in their careers.
Other finalists: Arizona State (Arizona's Todd Heap, Seattle's Zach Miller), California (Atlanta's Tony Gonzalez, Seattle's Cameron Morrah, Tennessee's Craig Stevens), Iowa (Buffalo's Scott Chandler, free agent Dallas Clark, Kansas City's Tony Moeaki, Oakland's Brandon Myers, Minnesota's Allen Reisner), Notre Dame (Seattle's John Carlson, Miami's Anthony Fasano, Minnesota's Kyle Rudolph), Texas (Green Bay's Jermichael Finley, Cincinnati's Bo Scaife, New Orleans' David Thomas), Wisconsin (New York Giants' Travis Beckum, Houston's Owen Daniels, Houston's Garrett Graham, St. Louis' Lance Kendricks)
Candidate you might not have considered: Colorado State is the alma mater of Denver's Joel Dreessen and San Diego's Kory Sperry. Dreessen caught six touchdown passes for the Houston Texans last season before signing with the Broncos as a free agent.


(yahoosports.com)

Coming off Houston's first playoff season in franchise history, Texans wideout Andre Johnson doesn't lack confidence in his starting quarterback, Matt Schaub.

Like the rest of us, Johnson heard the offseason rumors linking Houston to Peyton Manning. The thought of Manning pairing up with Johnson, while handing the ball to Arian Foster and Ben Tate -- not to mention that defense -- paints a slightly terrifying image.

Johnson, however, never took the rumors seriously.

"I didn't really look much into it," Johnson told NFL Network on Tuesday at a Nike event to unveil new NFL uniforms. "I didn't think that he would even come to us. ... When they talked about the teams that he possibly had a chance of going to, the two teams that I said was Denver or San Francisco and, as it started winding down, I figured he'd probably pick Denver."

Johnson's highlight-reel career remains directly linked to Schaub, who missed the final six games of the regular season and both of Houston's playoff affairs following Lisfranc surgery on his right foot. Schaub's durability was an issue in 2007 and 2008 before he started 42 consecutive games for the team. Johnson believes Schaub will return to form in 2012, and he wouldn't have it any other way.

"I know what type of player Matt is," Johnson said. "I know when he's healthy, what he can do when he's out on the field. He was having a great year until he was injured."

While Manning significantly changes the scope of Denver's offense, Schaub -- when healthy -- already gives the Texans a top quarterback in this league. He's thrived with Houston, averaging 264.1 yards passing per game over 64 starts, with 92 touchdowns next to 52 picks. Manning is a once-in-a-lifetime passer, but the Texans remain dangerous with or without him.


(nfl.com)

Houston Texans WR Andre Johnson has agreed to restructure his contract. The Texans have taken his $6.5 million base salary for 2012 and turned it into a bonus which will allow the team to spread the cap hit over the life of the contract.




(fantasysp.com)

Andre Johnson, WR, Texans: You can argue that Johnson is still the best wide receiver in the NFL, but his proneness to injuries over the last two years has put a dent into his overall draft value. I still see him as an elite fantasy wideout, however. Consider him a risk-reward selection.

Jimmy Graham, TE, Saints: Graham would have finished fifth in fantasy points among wideouts last season, posting statistical career bests across the board. In an offense that features a pass-laden system and an elite quarterback like Brees, Graham is a good bet to succeed again.


(nfl.com)

HOUSTON – Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson and defensive end J.J. Watt will be grand marshals at this year’s Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Downtown parade, officials announced Thursday.

“There is no better way to celebrate the kickoff of the Show than to have two of Houston’s very own star athletes leading the way,” said Skip Wagner, president of RodeoHouston. “The show and the Texans share a very special relationship, and to have Andre and J. J. start the parade is definitely a testament to that partnership and each organization’s devotion to the city.”

The Texans ended the 2011 season with a 10-6 record and won a playoff game for the first time in franchise history.

Johnson, drafted by the Texans in 2003, had 13 receptions for more than 200 yards in the team’s two playoff games.

In the team’s wild card playoff game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Watt ran back an Andy Dalton interception for a touchdown, the first of his career. Watt was picked 11th overall in the 2011 draft.

“We are thrilled to have Andre and J.J. represent the Texans in the Rodeo Parade,” said Texans president Jamey Rootes. “The Rodeo has been a great partner since before we even started playing in 2002, and to have two of our stars lead the parade is truly an honor and a great way to cap off a fantastic season for us.”

The rodeo parade will be held Saturday, February 25 at 10 a.m. just after the 25th Annual ConocoPhillips Rodeo Run, which has contributed more than $2.9 million to the show’s educational fund since it began.

The 2012 show runs February 28 through March 18. For tickets and more information, visit RodeoHouston.com.


(khou.com)

Kylie is Andre’s Daughter.

Perennial Pro Bowler Andre Johnson was on course toward his fourth 100-catch season when he sustained a hamstring injury against the Steelers on October 2. After missing six weeks, he returned against the Falcons on December 4 before a second hamstring injury cost him three more games. Johnson did return in time for the playoffs and pulled in 13 catches for 201 yards and a score.


(cbssports.com)

Frank Gore, Vince Wilfork, Ray Lewis, Jimmy Graham and Ed Reed all made the 2012 Pro Bowl, this being Graham’s first Pro Bowl selection of his career. This will be Gore’s 4th Pro Bowl (2nd consecutive), Wilfork’s 5th Pro Bowl (4th consecutive), Ray Lewis’ 14 Pro Bowl (7th consecutive) and Ed Reed’s 9th Pro Bowl (7th consecutive).

Chris Myers and Andre Johnson have been named alternates. Stay tuned for a couple of more players to be named alternates soon.

By the way: The Florida State Seminoles have ONE Pro Bowler and the Florida Gators also have only ONE Pro Bowler.

Since the 1959 Pro Bowl a proCane has been on a Pro Bowl roster 51 out of 52 seasons. Since the 1984 Pro Bowl, a proCane has been named to the Pro Bowl for 28 straight years. Check out the full history of every single proCane in a Pro Bowl below.

Wide receiver Andre Johnson is expected to be back in the Houston Texans' lineup Sunday when they face the Tennessee Titans, according to the Houston Chronicle.

“When they tell me he can go, he’s going,” Texans coach Gary Kubiak said. “It’s been a process. They’ve been working with him off the field, trying to get him ready to turn him over to me and put him on the field. … If it happens, it’ll be early next week.”

Johnson has had hamstring injuries on each leg this season and has played in only six games for the Texans with 31 receptions. The Texans need to incorporate Johnson back into their offense and give rookie QB T.J. Yates another good weapon.

While Sunday's game means nothing to the Texans in terms of playoff standings (and means everything to the Titans), Houston does not want to enter its first postseason backwards on a three-game slide.



(nationalfootballpost.com)

Texans coach Gary Kubiak said that Andre Johnson (hamstring) has a chance to play in Week 17 against the Titans.

"I’m hoping (Johnson) is back out there this week," said Kubiak. ''It’s my understanding that we’re real, real close. We’ll see what happens, but he’d be a nice addition to get back." Johnson has missed the last three games with a left hamstring injury and is expected to return for a ''tune-up'' in the season finale. In six starts this season, he's averaging five catches and 78.5 receiving yards per game.


(rotoworld.com)

Andre Johnson needs to play as soon as he is ready to go so that he will be at or near top speed for the playoffs.

So imagine my surprise that he will not play tomorrow night in Indianapolis, despite his being healthy and ready to go.

It’s an interesting decision Gary Kubiak made to hold Johnson out of the game. While I disagree with it, I can accept that he has a different opinion. But his explanation confused me.

“I would love for Andre to get some playing time before we head into (playoffs),” Kubiak said. “He’s very close to coming back out here with his teammates, but, obviously, with the quick turnaround, it’s not very smart. We’ll get him some time to rest over the weekend.”

Huh? Quick turnaround? From what, exactly?

Johnson didn’t play in Sunday’s game, so he isn’t under a quick turnaround.

I wasn’t there when Kubiak said this, so I don’t get the context and don’t know if a follow-up question was asked, but it sounds like off reasoning. Maybe Kubiak was talking about the turnaround from Johnson’s workout on Tuesday. If so, then I would question whether he should have been put through a strenuous workout only two days before a game.

Typically, on Fridays, NFL teams have little more than a walk-through practice.

“I feel alright,” Johnson said. “Coach Kubiak has the final say. I’d like to play, but we’re going to do what’s best for the team and whatever we feel is best for me.”

No, you shouldn’t rush Johnson back. It would be worse for him to be hurt and have to miss a playoff game than to play it at about 80 percent of his standard when he is in top football game shape.

But he has a better chance of getting into top football game shape if he plays parts of two regular-season games than if he plays in only one. Johnson could have at least gotten a few snaps in on Thursday to get the juices flowing. Perhaps you let him sit the second half so he doesn’t have to go through a shutdown where his hamstring could tighten up on him.

Then he gets 10 days to prepare for the next week against Tennessee. In that one, you let him play even more snaps, and into the second half. That seems smarter to me than holding him out of this game.

Of course, all of this is moot if Johnson wasn’t at 100 percent on Sunday or Monday (but I am told by someone who knows, that he was good to go). Why wasn’t the thinking to give him a solid practice-type workout on one of those days and not on Tuesday, with the idea that he would then be able to get enough rest to play on Thursday?

As is, it is possible that Johnson will step into a playoff game having played only 2 3/4 games in the previous three months. If you saw his return against Jacksonville (two catches for 22 yards), you know he didn’t come back playing anywhere near his norm.

“He played too much,” Kubiak said at the time. “Dang it, I had him in there too many plays. He got tired on me. He took a step forward. It’s going to take a few weeks for him to get back to himself, but for the progress he’s made to play (against the Jaguars) and come out of the game okay, I feel good about that. I just wish I would’ve had 10 or 12 less snaps than I did. I think I left him out there too long.”

That is probably what we can expect from Johnson when he returns. A player not in football shape who has to play limited snaps. It would have been good for that limited game to have been tomorrow, more snaps the next week against the Titans, then (hopefully) full speed for the playoffs.
I’m still riding my preseason prediction of an AFC championship game. But I would feel a heck of a lot better about it if Johnson were on the field tomorrow night.


(chron.com)

John McClain of the Houston Chronicle expects Andre Johnson (hamstring, out) to play in Week 17 against the Titans.

It sounds like it'd be a tuneup kind of appearance, getting Johnson "ready for his first playoff appearance." Johnson insists he could play in Week 16 if the Texans allowed him, but they're shutting him down for one more week.


(rotoworld.com)

Even through the tough patches, WR Andre Johnson's faith in making the playoffs with the Texans never wavered. "I've had people ask me why didn't I leave or why did I stay," said Johnson. "I just wanted to be a part of something special. I wanted to be here when the Texans made their first playoff game. I was here to do that, so hopefully, I can be here when we win our first Super Bowl."



(cbssports.com)

Houston Texans head coach Gary Kubiak said Monday, Dec. 12, that even though the team has clinched the AFC South Division title, he would like to use WR Andre Johnson (hamstring) in Week 15. "We've got to push. If I could, I'd have Andre back this next week," Kubiak said. "I think he needs to play. I think he needs to get back in the flow of things before we do get to January, but we've got to be smart here."



(kffl.com)

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Dozens of lucky students at Bastian Elementary School in southeast Houston got their Christmas presents early, and you'll never guess who was there to help out.

Santa's little helper was none other than Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson and he did not go there empty handed.

Christmas came early for the students at Bastian Elementary. First, a surprise visit from some Houston Texans cheerleaders, followed by the moment they have all been waiting for -- a visit from Texans WR Andre Johnson.

"I told you guys that when I came back that I was going to have a surprise for you guys," Johnson said to the students.

He had two surprises actually. Up first were Christmas presents courtesy of HPD's Blue Santa program. The second was for a select group of students -- 60 brand new bikes and helmets. It's all part of Academy Sports and Outdoors 10th Annual Bike Donation Program.

"These 60 kids were picked based on good grades, good attendance, good citizenship and need," said Bruce Goffney, Bastian Elementary School principal.

Johnson was compelled to get involved because growing up he saw too many of his friends go without during the holidays.

"I always said once I was in a position where I was able to give back that I would," said Johnson.

For a lot of these kids, this may be all that they get this Christmas.

"I think that Andre Johnson is, like, the best," said student Arayna Garcia.

To say they are grateful would be an understatement.

"He's the best thing that ever happened to my life because I never had a bike this cute, ever, in my life. It is the best thing that has ever happened to me," said student Grace Rodriguez.

"This is the best bike I've ever had. This is a Christmas to remember for me," said student Keiddrick Fizer.

Johnson comes to Bastian about three times a year just to spend time with the kids. He says the fact that the Texans made it to the playoffs for the first time ever made today even better. Students seemed to be a bit more energized.

The Texans wide receiver has been working with Bastian since his second year in the league after someone in his foundation hooked him up with the school.

And Johnson had a busy day. He started bright and early at a toy store for his annual shopping spree at Toys R Us. Child Protective Services selects children to take part in the event.

Johnson coaches them on their shopping skills and then they have 80 seconds to grab anything and everything they can. At the end of the excitement, Johnson foots the bill.

Of all the events he takes part in, Johnson says this is one of his favorites.



(abclocal.go.com)

One person who is not surprised about being inactive is Houston's Johnson. The All-Pro receiver missed six games earlier this season before returning for last week's game against Atlanta when he suffered another setback. In four games against the Bengals, Johnson was averaging 13.8 yards per catch.

Johnson told Houston reporters: "I knew I wouldn't be able to play this week, so that's pretty much it. 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 and I'm just trying to do everything I can to get back."



(cincinnati.com)

Texans receiver Andre Johnson strained his left hamstring on Sunday.  On Monday, owner Bob McNair suggests that Johnson could miss a couple of games.  Later that day, coach Gary Kubiak said Johnson had a mild strain, and that his status will be day-to-day.

As of Thursday, Johnson still isn’t practicing.

Kubiak said Thursday that Johnson worked out in the pool, and that the team has a general plan for handling Johnson on Friday.

“I would say we probably have a pretty good idea,” Kubiak said, via comments distributed by the team.  “We’ll see.  It’s a touchy situation because we are very fortunate.  We came out of it a lot better than we thought.  At the same time, how quick do we go back and that type of thing?  He has gotten good work inside in the last two days.  Whether we bring him out here tomorrow probably will be a big deciding point on where we go in the game, so we’ll see.”

The 9-3 Texans face the Bengals in Cincinnati on Sunday.  On one hand, the Texans need to keep pace with the other 9-3 teams in the conference.  On the other hand, they need Johnson at 100 percent for the postseason.



(profootballtalk.com)

Coach Gary Kubiak confirmed Wednesday that the Texans will play it smart and safe with Andre Johnson's latest hamstring injury.

The Texans are a run-based team with a 9-3 record, so they can afford to sit their top wideout until he's 100 percent. They don't want to risk setbacks. "The key here right now is that when we get him back, we need to make sure we get him back for the long haul," said Kubiak. Johnson didn't practice Wednesday and is highly unlikely to dress for Sunday's game against the Bengals.



(rotoworld.com)

Andre Johnson has a mild left hamstring injury, though Houston coach Gary Kubiak says it’s too early to know if his star receiver will play at Cincinnati this weekend.

Houston (9-3) has taken command of the AFC South with a franchise-record six straight wins, most of it without their five-time Pro Bowler.

Johnson pulled up in the third quarter of Sunday’s 17-10 win over Atlanta as he was chasing down a deep pass from rookie T.J. Yates, who was making his first NFL start. Johnson was playing his second game after missing the previous six with a right hamstring injury that required minor surgery.

An MRI exam showed that Johnson’s latest hamstring issue was far less severe than the last one.

“We’re very fortunate,” Kubiak said. “He’s day to day. I’ll probably give you a better answer once we give him a couple of days here, and get to Wednesday. But we do expect him back, hopefully sooner than later.”

(washingtonpost.com)

For the second time this season, receiver Andre Johnson went down on the Reliant Stadium grass surface as if he’d been shot.

The first time was against Pittsburgh, and the injury to his right hamstring required surgery and caused him to miss six games.

In Sunday’s 17-10 victory over Atlanta, Johnson was running a deep route, and he went down without being touched again, this time suffering an injury to his left hamstring.

“I’ve got an MRI scheduled in the morning, and we’ll find out exactly what it is,” Johnson said after the game. “I know it’s not as bad as the last injury, but I’m definitely worried about it.

“If I came back from the one earlier in the season, I can definitely come back from this one.”

There was a high school playoff game at Reliant Stadium on Saturday night between LaPorte and Port Arthur Memorial. Whether the high school game had anything to do with the grass field not being up to standard remains to be seen, but Johnson wasn’t the only player injured without being touched.

Inside linebacker Brian Cushing and punter Brett Hartmann suffered knee injuries. Cushing was able to return. Hartmann is probably gone for the season.

“I was a little nervous, especially with the way it (right knee) got caught under me,” said Cushing, who was chasing tight end Tony Gonzalez when he was injured. “It just felt awkward. I think it was more of a scare than anything going down like that. How I feel right now, I know I’ll be OK.”

After the injuries, expect the Texans to be checking the field carefully before the next home game against Carolina.

“It’s put together different than most fields, but since I’ve been here, I’ve thought it’s pretty darn good,” coach Gary Kubiak said. “I haven’t noticed that it’s any different from any other place we play.”


(chron.com)

For six seasons, receiver Andre Johnson and cornerback Dunta Robinson went at it during practice.

On Sunday, Robinson, who plays for the Atlanta Falcons, will cover Johnson.

“As you guys know, me and him are good friends,” Johnson said. “I talked to him Saturday. It’ll be different, but it’ll be fun. It’ll be different because I’m used to having him as a teammate.
“At at the same time, we both have a goal we’re trying to achieve, and that’s to help our team win. The friendship will go out the window.”


(chron.com)

Andre Johnson — Johnson finally has been given the all-clear to return from the hamstring injury that he sustained in Week Four, but you'll have to forgive his fantasy owners if their feeling of relief is mixed with a dose of trepidation. Given that Johnson's long-awaited return was delayed by minor setbacks along the way, concerns about how his surgically repaired hammy will hold up are justified. Then there's the matter of his new quarterback. While Johnson was in the homestretch of the healing process, Matt Schaub went down with a season-ending foot injury. Matt Leinart, a former golden boy to USC fans and a former pariah to Arizona Cardinals fans, will make his first start for the Texans in Jacksonville this weekend. Will the Texans' offense sail along as smoothly with the left-hander at the rudder? Or will the drop-off from Schaub to Leinart be significant enough to lower Johnson's statistical output from the elite level to merely good (or worse)?

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.


(profootballweekly.com)

Andre Johnson confirms today he will be back for the Texans game in Jacksonville this Sunday.  Johnson tells SportsRadio 610 his surgically repaired hamstring feels good and now he’s just working on his conditioning.

Johnson has missed the Texans last six games after suffering a hamstring injury against the Steelers on Oct. 2.  The Texans went 4-2 in his absence.

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.


(houston.cbslocal.com)

HOUSTON — The ball arrived on time, and the route, as usual, was precise.

On most days at Methodist Training Center, such a sequence is routine and, therefore, forgettable. But when it occurred Monday, it was memorable.

Under the watchful eyes of Texans owner Bob McNair and coach Gary Kubiak, freshly anointed starting quarterback Matt Leinart uncorked a tight spiral on an in-route to Andre Johnson, who plucked the ball out of the air and turned upfield, seemingly all in one motion.

Cue the whistles and catcalls.

“No. 80 is back!” shouted running back Arian Foster.

Johnson rejoined his teammates Monday, back at full speed after what will likely amount to a six-game layoff from a hamstring injury incurred Oct. 2 against Pittsburgh. The All-Pro wide receiver is expected to start Sunday in Jacksonville.

“Andre was fine,” Kubiak said. “He took all his reps with the team. We will monitor his reps in practice and probably going into the game, but all systems should be go this weekend.”

Johnson was engaged in rehabilitation following practice and did not speak to the media.

As for the other end of the connection, Leinart is engaged in his own form of rehab, but it's nothing from the physical standpoint. Well, perhaps rust — the former first-round pick hasn't started a game since 2009 — but preparing for his first significant action in two seasons has meant not only regaining trust in himself but of those around him.

“(My teammates) know I've been through a lot in my career, and I've been up and down, and ever since I got here, I've ... been surrounded by a lot of positivity,” he said. “(I've) gotten my confidence back over the last 18 months, and I just feel good. I feel good, ready for this opportunity, and it's great to have a great group of guys on this team — not just on our side of the ball, but on this team.

“I know the guys have my back, and for me, it's just a matter of just going out there and just leading the team and just managing the game, and we've got a great group of guys around me.”

Left tackle Duane Brown liked what he saw.

“He looked pretty sharp out there today,” he said of Leinart. “On point, strong arm, good in our audibles, things like that, getting us into the right plays, so we're excited going forward.”

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.


(mysanantonio.com)

Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson practiced with the team today and head coach Gary Kubiak said that he should be available to play this weekend, according to the team’s official Twitter account.

According to Kubiak, the 30-year-old receiver took all reps with the team today and “all systems should be go this weekend” for the injured receiver. The Pro Bowler has missed the team’s previous five games while recovering from a hamstring injury. In his first four games of the season, Johnson hauled in 25 receptions for a total of 352 yards and two touchdowns.

It had been originally estimated that Johnson would miss only two-to-three weeks due to the injury. After losing their first two games without the talented wide receiver, the Texans have won their last three games in a row.

The former first round pick has played his entire nine-year career with the Texans. The 6’3” receiver has recorded 100-or-more receptions in three separate seasons in his career, and has amassed 52 touchdowns total.

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.


(tracking.si.com)

Andre Johnson believes he will return from a hamstring injury in Week 12 against the Jaguars, following the Texans upcoming bye. The Texans wide receiver has not played since undergoing surgery after he was forced off the field in Week 4 against the Steelers.

On Tuesday, he seemed confident that he would be ready to return to the field, via HoustonTexans.com's Nick Scurfield. "I feel like I'm ready. Right now, I don't have any doubt that I'll be back on the field next Sunday," Johnson said.

The Texans could use Johnson on the field to help out quarterback Matt Leinart, who will take over for the injured Matt Schaub.

Click here to order AndreJohnson’s proCane Rookie Card.


(sbnation.com)

After weeks and weeks of progressively optimistic updates on injured wide receiver Andre Johnson, Houston Texans coach Gary Kubiak broke out a new adjective on Thursday.

"He was impressive today," Kubiak said of Johnson's work with head athletic trainer Geoff Kaplan, according to the team's official site. "He was very good, full speed."

As for what that means in terms of Johnson's return from a strained right hamstring, which has kept him sidelined five straight games, Kubiak said the decision will probably be made Friday. If he is able to practice, Kubiak indicated Johnson would be a game-time decision Sunday when the Texans travel to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Johnson addressed reporters following Thursday's workout and said that his leg felt good but no decision has been made for Sunday's game.
“I’m almost close to full speed,” Johnson said Thursday. “Everything’s been going very positive, so I’m pretty excited about that. ... We’ll come out and run again tomorrow, see how it feels, just make sure that I’m comfortable and we’ll go from there.”

Johnson said his last remaining hurdle was to feel no tugging in the hamstring while running.

“That was the main thing that was holding me back,” Johnson said. “I haven’t been feeling it the past couple days that I’ve been running. I guess the main thing now is just me getting confidence back in my leg. Sometimes when I’m running, I’m so used to feeling it that sometimes I’m waiting on it to happen.”

It's all a similar tone to last week, when the Texans expected Johnson to play against the Cleveland Browns before the receiver suffered a setback and was ruled out on Friday.

Kubiak has been adamant that Johnson, who did not practice Wednesday, won't return until he is able to run and cut at full speed.

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.


(nfl.com)

Texans coach Gary Kubiak said receiver Andre Johnson worked out with the team today but that his status is still "day-to-day" for Sunday's game at Tampa Bay.

Johnson has missed the last five games while recovering from surgery on his hamstring. He said last week he'd suffered a setback. Kubiak said today that Johnson is back on track.

"He worked out today, and it went well," Kubiak said, "but does that mean he'll make it on the practice field Wednesday? I don't know. He went through a tough few days, but he's getting closer."

Kubiak said when Johnson tells him he's 100 percent and ready to play, he'll be back in the lineup, no matter when it is. There's a chance Johnson won't play against the Buccaneers, which would give him the bye week before returning Nov. 27 at Jacksonville.

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.


(chron.com)

HOUSTON -- Houston Texans coach Gary Kubiak hasn't ruled out wide receiver Andre Johnson for Sunday's game against Cleveland after the star wide receiver missed his second straight day of practice Thursday.

Kubiak said Johnson, who is recovering from a hamstring injury, was feeling better but the Texans didn't feel he was ready to practice. The receiver went through an intense workout Monday that left him sore and caused him to miss the practices. Kubiak expects Johnson to return to practice on Friday.

"I'm not scared to play Andre if he doesn't practice," Kubiak said. "He knows what's going on. This is strictly about his health and how he's feeling."
Johnson was injured Oct. 2 against Pittsburgh and had a minor procedure to repair the right hamstring injury early the next week. He has missed four straight games and the Texans dropped the first two without him before winning their last two.

With Johnson out, the Texans have just four healthy receivers on their roster. Jacoby Jones has been starting opposite Kevin Walter while Johnson recovers, and the Texans also have Derrick Mason and Bryant Johnson.

Walter led the group with five receptions for 70 yards in Sunday's win over Jacksonville, which improved the Texans to 5-3 and 3-0 in the AFC South. Tight end Owen Daniels also pitched in, snagging four passes for 60 yards.

Kubiak has been impressed with their work while Johnson sits on the bench.

"Andre is our big gun. He's a great player, a tremendous player and when you lose a guy like that for four games in a season it's very tough," Kubiak said. "It's tough on the quarterback, tough on the group, tough on the receivers. I think they've all kind of responded in their own way. They've all made plays and it's been a grind for them."

Running back Arian Foster had just one reception for 12 yards against Jacksonville, but his 299 yards receiving in the last four games have led the team with Johnson out.

"That's always been a part of what we do," Kubiak said. "He's excellent with his hands. He's a three down player and we're going to always make sure that people have to worry about him doing that as well as running the ball. It's just another way of him touching the ball."

Foster's receiving yards have been helpful to the team with Johnson out, but it has been his running that has helped them get back on track in the last two games. Foster has 227 yards rushing combined in the last two games. He is the ninth leading rusher in the NFL with 532 yards despite missing two games.

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.


(espn.com)

According to the Houston Chronicle's John McClain, the Texans really "don't have a clue right now" whether Andre Johnson (hamstring) will be able to play against the Browns in Week 9.

“Last week, he was very down," said McClain in an interview with the Akron Beacon Journal. "... Usually he’s very upbeat. He was more upbeat right when he had his surgery than he was last week when he practiced, and he said he felt a tugging on his hamstring where they operated. ... They’ll rely on him heavily to tell them the truth. He said the other day he wouldn’t jeopardize the future, and he’s usually smart about being hurt."

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.


(rotoworld.com)

Texans coach Gary Kubiak acknowledged Monday that Andre Johnson has continued to battle through "some tightness, some stiffness" in his recovery from hamstring surgery.
Kubiak did say the team is "very encouraged by the progress that (Johnson) has made," but he's clearly not yet 100 percent. "We will put Andre back out there when he’s totally ready to go, and hopefully that’s this week," added Kubiak. We don't expect to know Johnson's Week 9 status until Friday at the soonest.

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.


(rotoworld.com)

His head coach and position coach both thought Andre Johnson looked fine during practice Wednesday.

Apparently, the Texans' All-Pro wide receiver didn't feel as good as he looked.

Johnson was skeptical when asked whether he'd return Sunday against Jacksonville from a hamstring injury that has sidelined him for the last three games.

"I just went out and did a little bit in practice today to see how I feel," Johnson said. "I wouldn't say I felt great. I didn't feel how I expected I would feel, but I was able to go out and make a few plays. We just keep taking it one day at a time."

Johnson said the problem is that he still encounters "tugging and stuff on my leg" when he runs. Cutting or running routes isn't an issue. Instead, it's a lack of explosion that concerns Johnson. Until that resurfaces, he said, he will not be ready to go.

"If I feel the way I feel today, I probably won't play Sunday, but today is not Sunday," Johnson said. "We still have some days ahead of us that we have to work through."

Head coach Gary Kubiak said the decision would ultimately be left to Johnson.

"It's hard for me just to watch a player practice, so I'll go back and sit down and watch it," Kubiak said. "But I'm going to listen probably more than anything. He looked good running to me. But we've got to see … like he wakes up (Thursday) - how sore is he? Those types of things.

"So I'm going to listen to him, and we've got a long way to go this season, and we need to make sure we do the right thing here. We've got a long week. We'll see what happens."

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.


(chron.com)

The Texans are hoping to get back receiver Andre Johnson (hamstring) and fullback James Casey (chest) for Sunday's game against Jacksonville.

"I think there's definitely a possibility with both of them," coach Gary Kubiak said. "James should be back at practice on Wednesday if there's no setbacks. The plan is for Andre to practice this week."

Johnson and Casey have to practice before they can be cleared to play.

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.


(chron.com)

Texans coach Gary Kubiak refuses to rule Andre Johnson out for Sunday's game at Tennessee, even though the wide receiver hasn't practiced since undergoing a minor procedure on Oct. 6 to repair his injured right hamstring.

On Tuesday, Johnson mentioned to a local radio station that he was told his absence might total six weeks - although he was skeptical of being out that long. On Wednesday, Kubiak said the recovery is "right on schedule."

"He's running," Kubiak said. "He ran some routes and caught the ball. There is still progress to make before Andre is going to be on the field. It may be that he gets on the field and practices a little bit before the week's out. I don't know right now.

"He continues to progress, and what are we - two weeks and a couple of days into this thing? There have been no setbacks. Everything has been positive, so we'll keep going."

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.


(chron.com)

Texans Pro bowl receiver Andre Johnson underwent surgery two weeks ago to repair an injured hamstring. He told SportsRadio 610 Tuesday morning that he’s ahead of the typical rehabilitation schedule for this procedure.

“I’m headed in the right direction,” Johnson said. “I just want it to heal faster. Right now it’s still weak; it’s not as strong as it use to be.”

The Texans (3-3) have lost two in a row without Johnson and would like to see him back on the field soon, but the long-term goal for Johnson is to prevent this injury from being something he deals with in the future. Since he’s unable to run at full speed, it’s unlikely he’ll be able to play during Sunday’s game against the Titans in Tennessee.

“They say it could take up to six weeks at the most,” Johnson said. ”But I don’t think it will take me that long.”

Johnson says this injury might have stemmed from an old injury he’s dealt with for a long time. He suffered pain behind his knee, but he says the recent surgery to his hamstring has even cured him of that knee pain.

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.


(chron.com)

Texans coach Gary Kubiak suggested Monday that Andre Johnson (hamstring surgery) could get in some practice time this week.

Johnson's most likely return date remains Week 8, but he's making progress. "He made a lot of improvement last week," said Kubiak. "We’ll increase his work. I have a hard time saying right now (if he'll play at Tennessee). Maybe there’s a chance he sees the practice field before the end of the week." Fantasy owners shouldn't be counting on Johnson to play in Week 7.

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.


(rotoworld.com)

Without Andre Johnson to double-team, Texans opponents are committing an extra defender to stop the run. The Texans are 0-2 without Johnson this season. They were 2-1 without him last season.

"We're getting played different," coach Gary Kubiak said. "There's a level of consistency when Andre's on the field with what people try to do.

"I don't think it has affected where Matt (Schaub) goes with the ball. (Sunday) we went toe-to-toe with a dang good team, and we needed a new hero. Until Andre gets back, someone has got to assume that responsibility."

(chron.com)

Texans coach Gary Kubiak conceded Wednesday that Andre Johnson (hamstring) is "unlikely" to play in Week 6.

Kubiak did indicate that he's been impressed with Johnson's progress, saying "it amazes you just how far he’s come so quickly." Speculation that Johnson's recovery was behind schedule appears unwarranted. The Texans' game-day wide receivers against the Ravens are likely to be Kevin Walter, Jacoby Jones, KR Trindon Holliday, and either Derrick Mason or Bryant Johnson.

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.


(rotoworld.com)

Coach Gary Kubiak said Andre Johnson's hamstring "soreness has gone away, and his rehab has picked up."
"We'll see where he's at each week," Kubiak said Monday. Johnson won't play against the Ravens Sunday, but the Texans aren't yet ruling him out for Week 7 at Tennessee. Still, the most likely return date remains Week 8 against the Jaguars. Remember that the Texans held Arian Foster out an extra week earlier this season to protect his hamstring from aggravation.

The Texans are expected to sign free agent WR Juaquin Iglesias to their practice squad on Wednesday.
It could mean nothing, or it could mean something. On the heels of Tuesday night's Derrick Mason acquisition, CBS Sports' Mike Freeman is speculating that the receiver additions suggest Johnson's recovery from hamstring surgery is going slower than anticipated. The Texans insist otherwise, but it's a situation to monitor. The Iglesias signing would put three wideouts on Houston's practice squad, joining Dominique Edison and Jeff Maehl.

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.


(rotoworld.com)

Houston Texans coach Gary Kubiak was non-committal Monday about wide receiver Andre Johnson playing this weekend against the Baltimore Ravens following a minor procedure to repair his right hamstring injury.

Kubiak said the soreness in Johnson's leg has been alleviated and his rehabilitation has been accelerated.

"His rehab has picked up, so we'll see where he's at each day, Kubiak said.

Johnson, who was injured Oct. 2 against the Pittsburgh Steelers and didn't play in Sunday's 25-20 loss to the Oakland Raiders, said last week that he was targeting a return this Sunday against the Ravens.

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.


(nfl.com)

HOUSTON -- Houston Texans star receiver Andre Johnson said he expects to be out a couple of weeks after a minor procedure to repair a right hamstring injury.

Johnson said he is scheduled to get the stitches from two incisions removed early this week.

"I wish I could go out there and try to run around today to see how it feels," he said Friday. "But I have to just wait until I get the stitches out and then I'll go all out."

The five-time Pro Bowl selection says he has felt great since Tuesday's procedure and is confident he will be back soon. He described himself as a fast healer.

"I haven't felt any pain with any of the exercises I've been doing ... so I'm pretty pumped," he said. "I've been bending my leg and everything. The only thing that really bothers me a little bit is where I have the stitches. So I think once I can get those out and the cuts close up I'll be fine."

The Texans (3-1) host Oakland (2-2) on Sunday and then play at Baltimore on Oct. 16.

Johnson was injured Sunday in a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. He recounted his thoughts when he was hurt after catching a pass in the second quarter without being touched.

"I was scared," he said. "I really couldn't explain what it was, I just felt pain. You see I was grabbing my leg when I was on the ground."

Johnson isn't walking with any sort of a limp, a fact that has caused several coaches to comment on the "pep in his step" this week. He said an old injury led to a "pretty big lump" of scar tissue that had been causing pain behind his knee off and on for some time.

"I had a lot of scarring around my tendon and that was the irritation that everything was coming from, so they had to go in and clean it up," he said.

Johnson has 25 catches for 352 yards this season to lead the team. Jacoby Jones will fill in for Johnson this week and the Texans can also go to tight end Owen Daniels, who has 14 receptions for 182 yards and three scores.

"We're being challenged right now from a numbers standpoint as a football team," coach Gary Kubiak said. "That's what this league is about -- trying to find a way each week to regroup and put your best group on the field to win another game. We've got to pass the test."

Johnson hates sitting out when the Texans are playing so well. But he believes the team is better equipped to deal with his absence than in the past when he was injured.

"The whole attitude of the team is totally different than it used to be," he said. "Of course you don't want to lose anybody, but at the same time we know what's at stake for the team. Guys are going to go out and get the job done."

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.


(cbssports.com)

The Houston Texans will be without wide receiver Andre Johnson(notes) when they host the Oakland Raiders on October 9. That is a huge loss for the Texans as they continue their drive toward a division title and the first playoff berth in franchise history. Houston still has a lot of talent on offense. However, it won't be easy to play without one of the three best wide receivers in the league.

Johnson was knocked out of the October 2 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers with a hamstring injury. The team confirmed that he had a minor procedure on his right hamstring. The team said that Johnson will miss the Oakland game and could be out longer. They didn't offer a specific time frame for his return but based on the procedure the Texans could be facing the prospect of losing Johnson for several weeks. The team doesn't have a bye week until Week 11. That means that Johnson won't get a free week of rest. He won't be out that long but Houston will likely have to handle the situation carefully each week.

The good news is that Johnson didn't have major surgery. He might be out a few games but he doesn't have to worry about long term recovery. That is good for both him and the team. Johnson is the leading receiver on the team in terms of yards and catches. Only tight end Owen Daniels(notes) has caught more touchdown passes. Kevin Walter(notes) and Jacoby Jones(notes) are decent receivers but they don't scare defenses the same way that Johnson does. Houston also has a strong running game. However, there is a real possibility that the lack of Johnson could encourage defenses to focus more on that instead of the passing attack.

I don't expect Houston to fall apart without Johnson. However, I don't think they will be able to count on the passing attack being as strong. Houston is strong in other areas and should be able to weather the loss of Johnson. If this really is a playoff team they can afford a short term loss even if it is a player of that caliber. But Houston is going to need to game plan a little differently. They won't get Johnson's production from another receiver. That means they will have to be creative in terms of putting points on the board.


(sports.yahoo.com)

Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson did have a surgical procedure on the distal tendon of his hamstring and not Platelet-Rich Plasma therapy. Surgery done by someone very familiar with doing it. This is not confirmed with anyone from the Texans nor his agent as they do not publicly wish to talk about it. I was told that the procedure went well, and like what others have been hearing, that the anticipated recovery time is three weeks.

Don’t ask me to tell you what surgical procedures on the distal hamstring tendon result in a three week recovery time based on what information you can find on the interwebs, because I can’t find it. Doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist however. I am not a doctor, nor should I play one on the interweb.

As my last post demonstrates, it is hard to find details on subjects that people don’t want you to have information about.

In today’s news, Texans coach Gary Kubiak provided a few additional details about his injury and said his procedure went well:

All the information that we’re getting moving forward is very positive, so that’s a good thing. He did have the procedure done yesterday. We’re not putting any timeline on anything right now. We just know that everything went well. The doctor feels good about it. Andre feels good about it. He should be back here sometime maybe this afternoon and we start our rehab and move forward. We’re going to miss him for a period of time. We’re going to have to have some guys step up and play well.

(on if there’s a timetable that usually goes with the procedure that WR Andre Johnson had) “No, Kap (Director of Sports Medicine/Head Athletic Trainer Geoff Kaplan) could probably give you more information on that. I just know that we had it done yesterday. Obviously, I’m in game-plan and stuff on Tuesdays. The biggest thing for me and for the team, me talking to the team is just how positive everybody feels about moving forward. I’m listening to the doctors, listening to Kap, listening to Andre. I had a great talk with Andre yesterday. We know we’re going to get our captain back and that’s a great thing. We’ve just got to go to work on getting that done.”

(on what happened with WR Andre Johnson’s injury) “I’m going to let Kap (Director of Sports Medicine/Head Athletic Trainer Geoff Kaplan) tell you. I really don’t know. It’s my understanding it has something to do with the tendon. That’s all I know.” (my emphasis).
That’s a lot of words to say wait and see.


(chron.com)

Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson sat out Wednesday's practice while dealing with a sore knee. Johnson said he was fine and would be back at practice tomorrow.

As long as Johnson participates in Thursday and Friday practices, there is no real need to get concerned about this. Rather, this post is more just to make sure you've got this on your radar. For guys like Johnson, it's easy to stick them in your lineup and only make an adjustment when their bye week comes around. You'll want to keep an eye out for Thursday and Friday injury reports.

As long as Johnson practices before the end of the week, he's good to go for this Sunday, which means you'll keep him in your starting lineup. The Texans are facing a struggling Pittsburgh Steelers squad and Johnson could be in line for a particularly strong day. Not that you wouldn't start him if you were worried about a strong secondary.

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.


(sbnation.com)

Andre Johnson reeled off 128 yards on seven catches as the Texans fell to the Saints in Week 3.

Johnson has at least 93 yards in each of Houston's first three games. Dominant over the middle and deep down the field Sunday, Johnson had 104 yards by the midway point in the first half. The Saints then took steps to slow Johnson down, and Houston's entire offense sputtered in the final two quarters. Johnson will continue to be an elite WR1 play in Week 4 against Pittsburgh.

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.


(rotoworld.com)

MIAMI - It turns out Andre Johnson isn't that much different than the rest of us.

When he lined up early in the fourth quarter Sunday at the Dolphins' 23, facing a 2nd-and-6 with a reserve cornerback named Nolan Carroll shading him with little help, he thought what the rest of us thought.

"The way he was playing me, I knew that it was six," Johnson said. "When I came off the line and saw the way he was playing me, I knew that it would be a touchdown."

The rest of us simply identified a mismatch - Carroll replaced Dolphins starting cornerback Vontae Davis, who suffered a hamstring injury - and with Johnson being who he is, it was a predictable outcome. For the Texans, however, it was a much-needed play, a strike that provided a cushion and the final advantage on the scoreboard - and who better than their All-Pro?

"I said, 'I'm going to be real aggressive here and we're going to throw the ball and give No. 80 a chance to make some plays and No. 80 did," Texans coach Gary Kubiak said.

Added quarterback Matt Schaub: "Andre was our No. 1 option on that play. He ran a great route, was able to get behind the corner and the safety hung on the inside so we had a good play in the back of the end zone. Dre's always going to be in the mix."

While Johnson may have received some help - "We had double coverage and we blew the coverage," Dolphins coach Tony Sparano said - the play was hardly surprising. Heck, it wasn't to Bryant Johnson, the wide receiver who joined the Texans less than three weeks ago.

What he has seen in practice since then from Johnson is amazing - not only catches like the one against Carroll but also catches similar in style to the spectacular 43-yarder just before halftime.

In Arizona, Bryant Johnson played alongside one of the league's greats at the position in Larry Fitzgerald, and he admits there are a lot of similarities in how both approach the craft. But because both Johnsons came out of college in the same year (2003), Bryant Johnson has always followed his new teammate's career.

"A guy like Dre, who puts in the work, you expect him to play like he did today," Bryant Johnson said. "He makes spectacular plays in practice, so you expect him to make those plays on days like today, too."

He did, of course. It was another ho-hum afternoon, the remarkable made routine. Or so said his coach.

"Andre had his usual - seven or eight catches for 90-something yards again," Kubiak said.

And a touchdown, too.

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(chron.com)

Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson (80) makes a University of Miami sign after scoring a touch down in the fourth quarter of a NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2011, in Sun Life Stadium in Miami. The Texans won 23-13. Photo: Houston Chronicle, Nick De La Torre / © 2011 Houston Chronicle



This photo was courtesy of proCanes twitter follower @tp8888.

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.

Houston Texans WR Andre Johnson is wearing a clear visor on his facemask thisyear. "The helmet I wear, my facemask is more open," Johnson said. "Sometimes, guys' hands get in your face and stuff like that, so that's why I've been wearing it." He tried out the visor in training camp and is trying it during games.

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.


(kffl.com)

Andre Johnson may be the most humble athlete. I say that after hearing him dispel the notion that he’s the best wide receiver in the NFL. If Johnson was watching Tom Brady carve up the Dolphins’ secondary to the tune of 517 yards on Monday night, he had to have been licking his chops thinking about what he might be able to do against Miami’s secondary this coming Sunday. In the Texans’  Week 1 drubbing of the Indianapolis Colts, Johnson had 7 receptions for 95 yards and 1 touchdown. Just another day at the office for one of, if not the best WR in the league.

In addition to his thoughts on the Miami Dolphins secondary, Johnson comments on several other big topics in this must listen interview with 790 The Ticket in Miami. By the way how about Dan LeBatard Is Highly Questionable? A very interesting idea for a program to have LeBatard and his dad (Papi) bring a family like atmosphere to sports talk. You either love it or hate it.  The brand new television program hasn’t taken away from LeBatard radio game one bit.

Andre Johnson joined 790 The Ticket on The Dan LeBatard Show with Stugotz to discuss how he doesn’t consider himself to be the best wide receiver in football, how he might put himself somewhere in the top five wideouts in the game,  crushing the Indianapolis Colts without Peyton Manning, his reluctance to comment on the mess going on at the University of Miami (his alma mater) stemming from Nevin Shapiro’s association with the program, his initial feelings when he saw the coverage devoted to the University of Miami scandal a few weeks ago, going against a Miami Dolphins secondary that allowed 517 yard passing to Tom Brady on Monday night, and having nothing to say about Cortland Finnegan (the CB he whooped up on during an in-game altercation last year).

Are you the best wide receiver in football?
“No. I’m not the best [laughs]. [Dan LeBatard: Come on who is better?] There’s a lot of great guys out there man. I’m a fan of the game. You look at…I’m a big fan of Calvin. Calvin Johnson. Right now I would probably say he is the best. [Dan LeBatard: He's taller than you?] He’s a pretty big guy. He’s a very talented guy. He’s my favorite guy from a fan perspective from the outside looking in.”

Are you a top five wide receiver?
“I’m somewhere in there.”

Did you enjoy crushing the Colts with Peyton Manning or do you prefer him being in that game?
“You would like to have Peyton Manning out there. The situation happened and we went out there and approached the game just as if he was out there. We went out there and got the W.”

I’m going to play word association with you. I’m going to throw out a name and you tell me what you think about the person. Nevin Shapiro?
“I would rather not comment on that [while laughing]. [Dan LeBatard: That's not how you play the game! That's not a fun game!] I would just rather not comment on that man. It’s just bad. You hate to see something like that especially at the ‘U.’ You hate to see something like that going on. I just feel bad for the guys that had to suffer consequences due to that.”

When you saw the coverage going on about what was happening at the University Miami you first thought was what?
“I kinda just thought a lot of times the NCAA do their investigations and things like that. I just think a lot of these boosters that they have around the school need to be investigated and find out what they are actually doing because you have guys that are around players at banquets and things like that and who knew all of that was going on. You know what I am saying? That’s the thing that needs to happen. It would be a hard thing to do, but somehow they need to figure out a way to investigate the boosters and stuff like to find out what they have going on.”

What did you really think when you saw Tom Brady throw for 517 yards against the Dolphins secondary when the Patriots don’t have a receiver like Andre Johnson? Andre Johnson thought to himself what?
“I just thought that the Dolphins were having a tough time. You seeing the guys cramping up and things like that. I just thought they were having a rough time. You can’t really go off what another team did. You can use that to game plan and things like that. It’s different week-to-week. You have to come to play every week. You can’t win the game on paper, so we are doing everything we can do to be ready on Sunday. We are going to try to go out and execute our offense and try to get the W.”

Is Cortland Finnegan a top corner you do not want to face?
“I don’t talk about that guy. [Dan LeBatard: Haha] [Stugotz: Now that's a guy you don't want to comment on!] [Dan LeBatard: That was an ass kicking you administered Andre] I guess so.”

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(sportsradiointerviews.com)

Andre Johnson caught seven passes for 95 yards with a touchdown in Sunday's blowout of the Colts.

Johnson had a high pass deflect off his hands which led to an interception in the first quarter, but he quickly redeemed himself. The Colts' tiny corners had no prayer of containing Johnson, who did anything he wanted for the entire first half. The Texans took a 34-0 lead into the half and then just ran the clock out. If the game was close, Johnson would have pushed for 200 yards receiving.

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(rotoworld.com)

Thank to proCane fan @gumavirg for sending us this video!

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.

HOUSTON -- Numbers mean almost nothing to Andre Johnson. Or so he says -- and I truly do believe him.

I recently tried to flatter him with an amazing statistic I dug up about his career, one in which he exceeds even Jerry Rice, the man I consider the greatest football player of all time.

Johnson has averaged at least 90 yards receiving per game in each of the past four seasons for the Houston Texans. Rice never did that; his best run was three consecutive years. The only player in the top 50 receivers to do it more than four times consecutively is Lance Alworth, who did it five times with the San Diego Chargers from 1964-68.

So what did Johnson have to say about it?

"I don't get caught up into that stat thing," Johnson said.

That's Jerry Rice, Andre.

"It's [an] amazing accomplishment when you look at the guys who played the position, but I have a lot more to offer," Johnson said. "I just like to know everything when I finish playing. I don't get caught up in stats. I just do whatever I need to do to help this team to win a Super Bowl."

Even nudging Johnson to extol his virtues won't work. He is the anti-diva receiver. At a time when you have guys quitting on routes, self-promoting themselves with reality shows and Twitter and calling out their quarterbacks, Johnson just works, plays, catches passes and can do something that none of the others can do.

Stand tall as the best receiver in football.

To truly put into perspective Johnson's four consecutive seasons of 90-plus yards per game, take a look at some of the other contemporary receivers and how many seasons they've gone past 90 for a season in their entire careers.

Terrell Owens: Four times. Marvin Harrison: Three times. Torry Holt: Three times. Randy Moss: Twice. Larry Fitzgerald: Once. Reggie Wayne: Once. Chad Ochocinco: Once

Johnson's four-season average of 96.2 yards per game is higher than any four-season run Rice had in his career. The only players among the all-time leading receivers to have better four-year averages are Alworth and Marvin Harrison (1999-2002).

That's why Johnson tops the list of players with a per-game average of 79.7 yards in his career. That's over 2 yards more than Holt, who is second at 77.4 yards per game. Rice finished his career at 75.6 per game.

Johnson also has 673 catches in eight seasons. If he somehow were to play 20 seasons -- hey, Rice played 21 -- and kept up his average, he would break Rice's all-time record for catches of 1,549. That's a long way off, but it's possible.

"That's not anything I am worrying about," Johnson said.

Of course it isn't. That's not Andre Johnson's way. He keeps a low profile for sure. This is a player who could walk into a grocery story in any other city except Miami -- his home and college town -- and Houston and most people wouldn't know who he was. That's the opposite of Ochocinco, his cousin, who is everywhere and even had his own reality show.

The fact Johnson is quiet and isn't in the tabloids or all over the papers could be the reason he doesn't get his due.

"I don't think that's it," Johnson said. "If you hear people talking about top receivers, look at their teams. They're successful. When people talk about Larry [Fitzgerald], it's because of what he did in the playoffs and the Super Bowl. That elevated him. I've never been on that stage."

Johnson, who has never played in a playoff game in his eight seasons with the Texans, played the 2010 season on an ankle that required offseason surgery. The coaching staff and his teammates were truly impressed by his dedication. Mondays were brutal, yet he missed just the final three games.

"It was really tough on him, but he found a way," Texans coach Gary Kubiak said. "He's one of those players who will fight to stay in there. He really had to battle through it each week."

"It was tough," Johnson said. "At the end of the season, the only thing that kept me out was the ankle specialist told me it wasn't worth playing because my ankle was getting worse."

Johnsons said he is pain-free in the ankle now, which is bad news for opposing defensive backs. He's also about to get some national exposure -- courtesy of Michael Jordan, one of the most recognizable athletes ever. He is one of the few football players featured as part of Jordan's "Jumpman" Nike line. Johnson is also featured in a Men's Fitness pictorial in September.

"I've been doing a lot of photo shoots," he said.

Johnson has just one national commercial on his résumé, for Nike gloves. What's wrong here? Why can't the best receiver in football get some love?

Maybe it's because he doesn't crave it -- or even really seem to want it. Hate to tell you, Andre. Keep it up on the field, and it's coming your way.

You just might be the next Jerry Rice, which is saying something in my book.

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.


(cbssports.com)

Johnson brings a rare combination of size, speed and athleticism. He is a good route runner who has the speed to challenge the secondary down the seam yet can run combination routes with excellent foot quickness, agility and acceleration.

Johnson can get in and out of his breaks with foot quickness and a burst to separate from defenders and has a wide receiving radius that allows him to extend to make difficult catches. He can go up and high point the ball in a crowd and has the strength to overpower most cornerbacks when challenged.

Ed Reed was No. 21, Ray Lewis No. 67.
Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.


(espn.com)

Three Texans starters who played at the University of Miami — receiver Andre Johnson, center Chris Myers and offensive tackle Eric Winston — were critical of the former Hurricanes booster who is at the center of a scandal that could bring down one of college football’s most successful programs.

Johnson accepted drinks and VIP accommodations at Miami-area clubs, according to Nevin Shapiro, a former Hurricanes booster who told Yahoo! Sports he lavished as many as 72 Miami players and coaches with cash, prostitutes, jewelry, travel and parties at his mansions, on his yacht and at local nightclubs.

Johnson didn’t deny knowing Shapiro, who was one of Miami’s most prominent boosters.

“I wasn’t in the clubs too much when I was in college, so I don’t know about that,” Johnson said about Shapiro claiming he hosted Johnson in VIP sections and bought him drinks, a violation of NFL rules. “He knows what happened, and I know what happened. I’m not really worried about it.”

Shapiro, who is in a New Jersey prison for his role in a $930 million Ponzi scheme, also told Yahoo! Sports that between 2002 through 2010 he paid players to attend Miami and, on one occasion, paid for an abortion.

“I don’t know about everybody else,” Johnson said. “I can only speak for myself. The guy’s in trouble, and he’s trying to take everybody down with him. You kind of get upset about it, but at the same time, you can’t control what anybody says.

“It’s over. It’s done with. The NCAA is handling it, and we’ll just move on.”

Johnson said no one connected to the scandal has contacted him. He made it clear, though, he doesn’t like what Shapiro is doing to his college, where he expects to earn his degree next summer.

“I think that’s bad,” he said. “It’s something you don’t want to see.

“Being down there this offseason and working out with so many guys and seeing the team improve and seeing that team on the rise, you hate to see something like this happen.”

Yahoo! Sports had a picture of Johnson posing with Shapiro at the Hurricanes’ 2002 all-sports banquet. Johnson said he took a lot of pictures with a lot of fans while he played at Miami and doesn’t remember that one.

Shapiro also said Texans second-year linebacker Darryl Sharpton partied at one of his mansions and accepted VIP access at clubs, where he also was bought drinks.

Counting veteran defensive lineman Damione Lewis and rookie cornerback Brandon Harris, the Texans have seven players who played for the Hurricanes.

Myers, Winston and backup tackle Rashad Butler played on the same offensive line at Miami. Myers left for the NFL after the 2004 season and was drafted by Denver in 2005.

“To be honest with you, it was a surprise to me,” Myers said about Shapiro’s allegations. “I was there five years. I knew the guy was around, but I didn’t know all that stuff was going on.

“Every story I read is new stuff to me. It’s a shame, but it’s a one-sided story right now. I’m anxious to see how it all pans out. He’s in prison. He can say anything he wants to say. It’s a real shame, dragging down a program right now. There’s always two sides to every story.”

Winston earned All-American recognition with the Hurricanes before the Texans drafted him in the third round in 2006.

“I heard the name (Shapiro), but I didn’t know him, and I couldn’t pick him out of a lineup,” Winston said. “Anytime you have a guy who, obviously, has the character he has and gets that close to the program it’s worrisome.

“Sure, you’re surprised when something like this comes out. It’s unfortunate that a guy like that got as close as he did with the program, but, a lot of colleges are dealing with the same kind of thing.

“It’s unfortunate, but we have to deal with it as a program, as a family and keep pushing forward.”

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.


(chron.com)

HOUSTON (AP) — On his 30th birthday last month, Andre Johnson didn't spend much time thinking about football or the fact that he has yet to reach the playoffs.

Still, the Houston Texans' star receiver said he never thought he'd reach the milestone birthday before making the postseason.

"Like I said before, that's something I think about every day," Johnson said of making the playoffs. "I'm just trying to do whatever I can to hopefully stand up on that podium one day and hold that trophy. That's my goal."

Johnson has long been considered one of the top receivers in the NFL. He's had more than 1,000 yards receiving in five of his eight seasons in the league, including the last three straight.

But as the Texans prepare for their 10th season and Johnson for his ninth, he's prepared to do even more to help Houston reach the playoffs for the first time.

"You just have to turn your play up another notch," he said. "That's just the way I look at it so hopefully, the way I've been playing, I can just take it and turn it up a whole other level. That's what I'm going to try to do."

It would be difficult for Johnson to do much more for this team. He followed up two straight 1,500 yard-plus receiving seasons by catching 86 passes for 1,216 yards in just 13 games last year.

"He means everything," coach Gary Kubiak said. "I was just telling the guys a while ago that I was putting pressure on him. When he practices good, we practice good as an offensive football team; same thing with the quarterback. Andre goes all day, works all day. You don't find many guys that are nine-year pros and work like that. That's why he's a great player."

Johnson missed four days of camp with a dislocated left index finger, but has looked good since returning on Sunday. He's not 100 percent, but knows it's important to practice as much as possible with the first preseason game with the Jets coming up on Monday.

"I feel pretty good," he said. "The finger is still sore. I just keep it wrapped up with a splint ... just trying to see how fast it can heal up, but I've been getting treatment and stuff on it every day just trying to get it fully healed."

Johnson doesn't talk publicly about personal goals and says he doesn't care where people rank him among the top receivers. The only goal he shares with the media before each season is the one he hasn't reached, but he's grown weary of talking about that one, too.

"It's like beating something dead," Johnson said of talking about the playoffs. "We hear it over and over so we know what we have to do to get to where we want to go."

Texans owner Bob McNair said he isn't even considering the possibility of not making the postseason.

"It's the playoffs," he said. "That's what we expect and have no reason to believe we won't be there. We're going to do whatever we have to do to win, period. Of course, that means you're going to be in the playoffs ... but it's all about winning and we've had adequate time to get there and we've been very close. We just need to make that determination that we're going to make it happen."

As one of the longest tenured players on this team, Johnson's leadership is something McNair believes will be key in helping the Texans reach their goal. Johnson signed a contract extension before last season that should keep him in Houston for his entire career.

"You just couldn't ask for anybody to be a better teammate than Andre because not only is he a great player but he goes out there and plays as hard or harder than anybody, he never complains, he does his job, he's willing to sacrifice and he doesn't complain about how many balls you've thrown to him," McNair said. "That's what you're looking for. This is a team sport and a lot of what happens depends upon the chemistry of that team. Andre helps set the right chemistry for us."

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.


(ap.com)

HOUSTON — Andre Johnson awoke in Dallas on Super Bowl Sunday after spending a festive weekend with friends in February. By kickoff, he was nearly 250 miles away, not a party bowl of guacamole within reach, lollygagging alone at home in his annual playoff funk.

Voted by peers as pro football's consummate pass catcher, not even Johnson's phenomenal exploits have been able to steer the Houston Texans to the playoffs. After slumping to a 6-10 record in 2010, Houston remains the only NFL franchise not to have advanced to the postseason since beginning play in 2002.

"This is what eats at me every day," says the soft-spoken wide receiver in a baritone voice. "I knew when I was drafted (in 2003) I was coming to an (expansion) organization. I knew it would not happen overnight. But I did not think it would take this long. I think about it every day. When I say every day, I mean … every … single … day."

That makes eight interminably long years for one of the NFL's most highly accomplished — yet underappreciated and understated — assets. Johnson is no diva, tweeter or brand builder, just "hands-down the best receiver in the league," says cornerback Melvin Bullitt of the rival Indianapolis Colts.

The highest-paid receiver in history "has done everything for the (Texans) franchise; no one knows his name," says Baltimore Ravens fullback Vonta Leach, a former teammate.

Defenses do. Johnson, 30, is a fearless playmaker with freakish athletic ability, including a high tolerance for pain. Johnson is not the least bit queasy regarding the real possibility of violent, rush-hour-like collisions in the secondary. As he reasons, "You are going to get hit anyway. So you might as well catch it."

Johnson played with a high-ankle sprain most of last season and was voted to his fifth Pro Bowl and fourth all-pro honor. Injured in Week 2, he finished with 86 catches for 1,216 yards and eight touchdowns despite missing three games — including the last two when doctors advised him to shut it down.

"Putting up those numbers, on one foot, tells (you) what he is all about; he is a phenomenal player," Texans coach Gary Kubiak says.

Texans quarterback Matt Schaub says there were many occasions when Johnson's ankle "was tweaked, and he would get a (pain-numbing) shot and go back out. Andre is a tough guy who sells out for his team."

The reason: His determination to be the greatest. Ever.

Maybe that's one reason, as a prep player at Miami Senior High, his first tattoo was of a lion with a football in his mouth underscored by “Hungry.”

"(Hall of Fame receiver) Jerry Rice has set a plateau that probably never, ever will be duplicated," Johnson says. "But when I walk away from this game, I want people to say that Andre Johnson was the best receiver to ever have played."

Big numbers, low profile
Only Rice and Johnson have led the league in receiving yards in back-to-back seasons since 1960. This summer, NFL players voted the big Texan the league's seventh-best player overall.

Respected? Unquestionably. Chad Ochocinco-like, over-the-top personality? Sorry, wrong dude.

In 2010, sales for Johnson's No. 80 jersey ranked 44th among NFL players and, incredibly, No. 8 among receivers. The Texans' playoff drought is one reason. So is Johnson's indifference to personal outlandishness and a lack of self-promotion. He'd rather attend a high school football game or spend time with daughter, Kylie, 2.

"I don't think the guy even has a touchdown dance," marvels Hall of Fame receiver James Lofton of CBS Radio.

He sometimes spikes the ball, but mostly hugs his teammates and beelines for the sideline. Not that he is anti-flamboyant.

"Sometimes," he says, "I look forward to going home and watching ESPN to see what someone does (outrageously), so I can laugh. But it isn't me."

It was his shocking slugfest with Tennessee Titans cornerback Cortland Finnegan in 2010 that earned him unwanted notoriety. The players were kicked out of the game and each fined $25,000. Johnson apologized.

"More people know him more for the Finnegan fight than the play of Andre Johnson," Leach says. "He doesn't say much. He just goes about his business, a true professional. He chooses to make noise with his play."

Johnson is a rare, defense-sapping combination of a powerful, 6-2, 228-pound receiver who, Bullitt says, "has the size of a (pass-rushing) defensive end, the speed of a cornerback and the hands of a wide receiver."

The Atlanta Falcons' Roddy White, the NFL's leader in catches in 2010, jokingly says Johnson is "so big, so strong and runs so fast, that it's kind of unfair."

Johnson's 79.7-yard per-game career average is best in NFL history among players with at least 100 games. The only player in league history with 60 or more catches in each of his first eight seasons, Johnson often confronts sticky double coverage and brutal hits. His toughness and explosiveness enable him to turn routine catches into wide swaths of real estate.

Texans receivers coach Larry Kirksey, who coached Rice and Terrell Owens in San Francisco, calls Johnson a mixture of them.

"He is smart, and he understands the game. And he plays the game the way it is meant to be played," by playing all-out.

A prime example came in Week 13 at the Philadelphia Eagles. Four days after the Finnegan fiasco, Johnson displayed the right kind of playoff fight for a desperate team. With Houston trailing before halftime, he reinjured his ankle, telling trainers, "I think I'm done for the season." Johnson got a painkilling injection at halftime.

"He came out (because he) knew we needed him; it was do-or-die for us," Schaub says.

With the Texans trailing 20-10, Johnson returned in the second half and finished the game with six catches for 149 yards. The Texans rallied to take a 24-20 lead but lost 34-24.

"Yeah, I hate to say it, but there are some guys who (play just for money)," Johnson says. "They really don't care if they win or they lose. They just want to collect a check. If I ever got to that point, I would retire."

Keeping his head high
While he appears years from that eventuality, the injury bug stung Johnson in training camp. Leaping for a pass, the ball deflected off his left hand and dislocated the index finger.

"When I looked at it, it was kind of ugly, so I popped it back into place," he said. "But when I took my glove off, the blood started running out," because the bone broke the skin. "If I were able to play on a bum ankle, there is no way a finger is going to keep me down."

A day after the injury, Johnson found humor in his plight. As he strolled down a hallway, his tender, heavily bandaged finger was caught up in a pair of sandals carried by third-year running back Chris Ogbonnaya.

"He started pulling me along, and I was like, 'Whoa, whoa!' " Johnson says. "He said, 'Sorry, man, my bad.' We just laughed."
Johnson has had too few days to smile about since the Texans drafted the ex-Miami (Fla.) star with the third overall pick. At Miami, Johnson was accustomed to playing after the regular season. He was a Rose Bowl MVP. But it would take until 2009 before Johnson played on another winner: the 9-7 Texans.

Last summer, the Texans rewarded Johnson with a two-year, $23.5 million contract extension, including a guaranteed $13 million that keeps him in Houston until 2016. But at what price to a very determined man?

"I hate watching the postseason," he says. "I think, 'Man, when is our time coming?' "

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.


(usatoday.com)

It's been a little over a week since Andre Johnson left practice with a dislocation to his left index finger. Fans of the Houston Texans were relieved to learn that the injury wasn't too serious -- as in no surgery would be required. But that doesn't mean the five-time Pro Bowler isn't dealing with the effects of the painful injury since returning to practice this week. Johnson gave KILT in Houston an update on his finger injury during a Tuesday interview, and from the sound of it, Johnson is still in quite a bit of pain and is in an adjustment period as he tries to put the injury out of his mind while catching balls.

How his finger feels:
“It’s a little sore. It’s in a splint for most of the day. The only time it’s not in a splint is when I’m out here. We’re still waiting for the wounds to close up but it’s not stopping me from practicing so that’s a good thing.”

Whether or not he was scared to try and catch a ball with his finger at first:
“I wasn’t scared. I think the biggest thing was I looked at my finger and said ‘wow that looks kinda ugly.’ I popped it back into place and once I popped it back into place I really didn’t think nothing of it. I just went to get buddy tape and when I went to take my glove off blood was just running down my hand.”

How tough it has been to gain back his confidence in that finger:
"At times you’re kinda hesitant about sticking your hands up there rather than body catch it. That’s just part of it because you have to gain the confidence back. My first day at practice I caught myself doing that at times and actually one of the balls popped off my facemask. One of the first few passes I tried to catch I was just getting that confidence back and getting used to catching the ball. You know I wear a splint now on my finger so I have to get used to catching the ball with that on also. It’s been a little different. Like I said I’m just excited to be back out here.”

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.


(sbnation.com)

Andre Johnson, ever the warrior, returned to practice Sunday and made a number of difficult catches, no matter that he's still dealing with a compound dislocation of his left index finger. Most impressive was a ball he pulled in despite solid coverage by new free safety Danieal Manning.

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(chron.com)

Texans WR Andre Johnson's dislocated finger was a little more serious than originally revealed.

Johnson, widely considered the NFL's premier wide receiver, was taken to a Houston hospital Tuesday morning after the bone of his left index finger busted through the skin and caused blood to spurt from the wound, he told USA TODAY on Wednesday.

The 30-year-old Pro Bowler said he jumped in the air for a pass during a drill and the football hit the tip of his finger, dislocating the digit.

"I had a glove on and when I made a fist, my index finger didn't feel right. When I looked at it, it was kind of ugly, so I popped it back into place,'' he said. "I was fine, wasn't in any pain or anything. But the sweat from my glove got in the cut where the bone broke the skin. It started burning. When I took my glove off, that's when the blood started running out.''

Johnson said he went to his receivers coach, Larry Kirksey. "He said, 'What's wrong?' He saw the blood running out and was like, 'Oh, hell, no.' ''
The receiver said he did not need stitches but was told by doctors that the cuts he sustained would need about three days to heal. The finger, resting on a small splint, is heavily bandaged.

"Once the cuts close, I can start practicing again. They say, hopefully, sometime this weekend,'' Johnson said.

The veteran, who was hobbled virtually all of last season with a high ankle sprain, did find some humor in the situation a day later after the accident.

"I was walking by (Texans' running back) Chris Ogbonnaya and he was carrying his sandals,'' Johnson said. "Somehow, his sandal got hooked up with my (injured) finger) and he started pulling me (down the hallway). I was like, 'Whoa, whoa…'' He said, 'Sorry, man, my bad!' We just both laughed about it.''

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(usatoday.com)

In jest, he referred to himself as "the old vet," but the tag does fit. This is Andre Johnson's ninth training camp, all with the Texans. Among teammates, only Neil Rackers (11 seasons), Damione Lewis (10) and Brad Maynard (14) have been in the NFL longer, while fellow wide receiver Kevin Walter and guard Wade Smith have stuck just as long.

One of Johnson's discoveries is that the nicks not only last longer now but they also occur more frequently than before. On Tuesday, he dislocated his left index finger during a one-on-one drill with rookie Roc Carmichael, but the injury isn't major.

It won't linger into the regular season, during which Johnson — at 30 and after a nearly decade-long playoff drought — insists he's maintaining a singular focus.

"There's nothing else," Johnson said. "I've been All-Pro, been to Pro Bowls and had 1,500-yard seasons. All it's about now is winning Super Bowls. That's the reason why I play. That's my goal.

"I'm going to do everything to help this organization get there."

This is a serious matter because Johnson, beyond his excellence on Sundays, is noted for his silence. He is quiet by nature, not loud with anything besides his statistics. He is not a self-promoter, which makes sense because he's arguably the best wide receiver in the NFL — and aren't actions supposed to speak louder than words?

Has anyone adhered to that axiom/cliché more than Johnson? Well, not anymore. He's speaking up. Johnson revealed Sunday he chatted with free-agent acquisition Johnathan Joseph in the offseason at a wedding for Fred Bennett, a former Texan and South Carolina alumnus (like Joseph).

"He just told me what a great organization it was here and how much I would like it here, the city and fans and that's what you want to be part of in this league," Joseph said.

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(chron.com)

HOUSTON -- WR Andre Johnson was forced from the Texans' Tuesday morning practice after what appeared to be a dislocated left index finger.
The finger, injured in a one-on-one drill, was put back into place and wrapped before Johnson was taken off the field on a cart. The five-time Pro Bowler was not expected to participate in the afternoon session.

"We'll have to wait and see,'' said coach Gary Kubiak, hopeful the injury was merely a dislocation. "I have a big lump in my throat like everybody else, but hopefully he'll be fine.''

Johnson, 30, played through a high ankle sprain for most of last season but still caught 86 passes for 1,216 yards and eight TDs. He has led the NFL in receiving yards per game three of the past four years.

In an offseason survey of players conducted by the NFL Network, the highest-paid receiver in history was voted the league's seventh-best player, regardless of position, and its No. 1 wideout.

Since the merger, Johnson is the only receiver other than Hall of Famer Jerry Rice to lead the NFL in receiving yardage in back-to-back seasons (2008-09). Johnson and former Colt Marvin Harrison are the only players to ever post consecutive 1,500-yard receiving seasons.

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.


(usatoday.com)

(hurricanesports.com)

Here was the NFL Network’s top 10 (with fan ranking in parentheses):
1. Tom Brady, QB, New England (No. 3) 2. Peyton Manning, QB, Indianapolis (No. 1) 3. Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota (No. 7) 4. Ray Lewis, LB, Ravens (No. 4) 5. Ed Reed, S, Ravens (No. 8) 6. Troy Polamalu, S, Pittsburgh (No. 6) 7. Andre Johnson, WR, Houston (No. 10) 8. Darrelle Revis, CB, N.Y. Jets (No. 14) 9. Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans (No. 9) 10. Julius Peppers, DE, Chicago (No. 18)

Do you see any Seminoles or Gators? We don’t....

"There will be football this year. There will be football this year. There will be football this year." You know those self-help gurus who say that you can will stuff into existence? Yeah, we're not sure if they're all they're cracked up to be either, but just in case, repeat the aforementioned mantra a few times today to be sure.

The lockout has to end soon, and when (not if!) it does, Andre Johnson will be ready. In eight seasons with the Houston Texans, the University of Miami product has solidified his spot as the top wide receiver in the game, including three straight All Pro selections. He's spent much of the lockout working out with fellow alums at The U, but he took a few minutes out of his schedule to talk to us about Halle Berry, the most famous person in his cell phone, and why Rick Ross's "I'm Not a Star" perfectly sums up his own life.

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What’s your favorite song of the moment? Andre Johnson: The thing I listen to the most right now is Rick Ross - “I’m Not A Star.”

What about that song in particular? Andre Johnson: I think the title pretty much describes itself. I’m not a star. I just look at it just like I’m a normal person. That's the way I approach things. By being an elite athlete a lot of people think that you can go away or go places and get away with things. I’m more of the laid-back person. I don’t have to go and skip the line. I don’t have a problem waiting.

And obviously Rick Ross is a Miami dude, so that has some resonance, right? Andre Johnson: Yeah, definitely. You know, you always support guys from your hometown. And I had the chance to meet him out in L.A. during [NBA] All-Star Weekend. He’s a real good dude.

If you had to pick one pair of Jordans, which would it be? Andre Johnson: I like the 9’s, black and gray.

What’s the most money you ever spent on an item of a clothing? Andre Johnson: Probably like three grand on a leather jacket.

When did you pick that up? Andre Johnson: About four months ago.

And you mentioned not being the dude that has to get in the front of the line. Was there a time where you first came in to the league where that was something you wanted to do? Andre Johnson: I’ve never been that kind of person. I’ve always been the more laid-back more humble guy. I don’t have to be in the limelight, you know? If I’m in club I’m gonna be in the corner. I don’t have to have all the sparkles on the bottles and all that stuff.

What celebrity is in your Wifey Hall of Fame? Andre Johnson: Halle Berry.

Is there a particular era of Halle Berry that you’re fond of, or just her overall? Andre Johnson: Nah, just her period. Her and Paula Patton.

Favorite alcoholic drink? Andre Johnson: Ciroc, coconut on the rocks.

Current video game obsession? Andre Johnson: Two games – either Madden or NBA 2K11.

Whom do you play with in Madden? Andre Johnson: I play with anybody—I don’t play with myself. I always tell people I’m a fan of the game also. So, I play with anybody.

Dream ride? Andre Johnson: I’ve had a lot of cars. [Laughs.] Probably the Drophead Phantom, the convertible Rolls Royce. That’s probably the top of the line besides the Bugatti. I’m not spending a million dollars for a car. [Laughs.]

Coveted tech product? Andre Johnson: My laptop.

What do you use? Andre Johnson: A Mac.

So you just kind of carry that around with you all of the time? Andre Johnson: Majority of the time. I’m not on it a lot. I just make sure it’s with me.

What's your favorite city to visit? Andre Johnson: I spend most of my time in Miami, but I’m from there so… Other than that I don’t really have one to be honest.

Who’s the most famous person in your cellphone? Andre Johnson: Probably Michael Irvin.

You’ve known him from since when you first were in school at Miami right? Andre Johnson: I think I met him my freshman year and it’s been all love since then.

What have you been doing during the lockout? Andre Johnson: Just back in Miami training, working out down at The U. Trying to make sure I’m ready for when everything gets worked out.

That’s probably not that much different than your normal offseason routine, right? Andre Johnson: It was different this year because we didn’t have any offseason training and stuff with the team. But, I prefer to be in Miami training anyway. I feel that’s where I get what I need to get done. When I leave there I know that I’m ready.

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(complex.com)

Chad Ocho Cinco tweeted: Just finished working out with @Johnson80 @eighttodanine @antonionbrown84 and @bothetrainer



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(twitter.com)

One of the curiosities to develop during the locked-out NFL offseason is star players lobbying for other players who will eventually become free agents to join their teams. The latest such campaign came from Andre Johnson, who reportedly has lobbied Nnamdi Asomugha to join the Texans.

Asomugha, as you are likely well aware given all the conjecture, is the consensus top player available in what will be the free-agent market. So while Texans coach Gary Kubiak isn’t allowed to comment on free agents, he indicated during an interview with NFL Network’s Rich Eisen he’s appreciative of Johnson’s networking skills.

“We obviously have to continue to get our football team better. I’m glad Andre has some great friends out there, so we’ll see what happens,” Kubiak said with a laugh.

While it’s difficult to handicap the Houston’s chances of landing Asomugha, it’s worth noting both Vic Carucci (story here) and Jason La Canfora (report here) have suggested the Texans will be legitimate suitors. But Johnson might have his work cut out for him.

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(nfl.com)

Comments

Normally this time of May Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson is busy with OTA's along with his annual 1st and Ten football camp. The NFL lockout however has opened some extra time for Andre as he was able to return to town to host his camp Saturday afternoon.

"This is fun, I always enjoy helping to teach the kids," Johnson told KPRC-TV in Houston Saturday at the camp site in Sugar Land. "It's a little hot our here but we've had a nice turnout and are having a great time."

While Johnson was joined by Texans teammates David Anderson and Vonta Leach and former Texan Travis Johnson, the subject of football and state of the NFL quickly came up as it seems it always does according to Johnson.

"I hope that it gets done because we all love this game of football," Johnson said.

The lockout has been in place since March and currently both sides are not scheduled to resume talks until early June. While players aren't complaining one bit about missing OTA's or Mini-camps, they would like the business of football to be resolved.

"I answer that question just about every day. No one wants to go home without football. It's a game that everyone loves so hopefully we can get it done."

Johnson admitted to KPRC-TV Saturday, questions are coming from all directions.

"My family, friends, you can just be in a restaurant or something and somebody is going to come to you and ask you if football is going to be played next year. Everybody wants it so hopefully we'll have something done."

Texans fullback Vonta Leach was a guest instructor at Johnson's camp. He remains uncertain if he'll remain with the Texans.

"It's tough because as long as this lockout goes on, there's no decision," Leach said. "I definitely want to be here but it's a business and as soon as an agreement is done, the pace is going to be fast."

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.



(click2houston.com)

Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson played through most of the 2010 season with a high-ankle sprain in his right foot. That injury is now officially a thing of the past.

Johnson told the Miami Hurricane, the campus newspaper at his former school, that he recently received medical clearance after having arthroscopic surgery on Jan. 12.

“I started (training) a little later this year because of a little ankle surgery that I had,” Johnson said. “That’s pretty much it, but (the lockout) hasn’t changed anything as far as me training. I just got cleared by the doctor, but that’s the only thing that has held me back a little bit.”

Johnson was injured last season in Week 2 at Washington. He wound up missing three games but still finished sixth in the league with 86 catches and 1,216 yards. But the five-time Pro Bowler isn’t resting on his laurels as he approaches his ninth NFL season.

“Every year I just try to come in and work harder than I worked the year before,” he said. “I come back here and do the same things I’ve done to get me to the point where I made it into the NFL. That’s why I come back here, that’s why I bust my butt every day that I’m in here so that I can stay on top of my game. I’m not getting any younger, and there are a lot of talented guys coming in every year. You have to compete at a high level every year, so I just try to maintain what I’ve been doing.”

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.



(houstontexans.com)

The "Madden NFL 12" cover athlete will be unveiled live on SportsNation on ESPN2!
Your votes will determine who graces the cover of Madden 12. Join hosts Colin Cowherd and Michelle Beadle on "SportsNation" throughout the voting period for interviews with the candidates and more!
SportsNation, weekdays at 4 ET on ESPN2!

Voting dates:
Opening Round: March 21-27
Second Round: March 28-April 3
Third Round: April 4-10
Semifinals: April 11-17
Finals: April 18-26

Click here to vote if you don’t believe in the Madden curse, or if anything vote for someone you want to be cursed!

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.

The Texans might be a perennially mediocre team but Johnson is a spectacular talent and currently holds the league’s career record for receiving yards per game, a superstar status that’s cemented by his allegiance with Jordan Brand.  JB’s latest football star joins the colorful Terrell Owens among others under the Jumpman umbrella and we can’t wait to see all the different Air Jordan cleats he’ll break out, if the two sides ever come to an agreement.  Click through to see Johnson rocking the Air Jordan Alpha Trunner along with some new JB receiver gloves and stick with Sneaker News for more on Jordan Brand’s NFL contingent.









Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.

John and Lance threw the topic out this morning and not in a particularly positive sense. Once upon a time, we had big-name professional athletes: Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler, Roger Clemens, Craig Biggio, Andy Pettitte, Jeff Bagwell, Earl Campbell, etc.

Now? We've got almost no one who raises an eyebrow around the country. Andre Johnson is held in high regard by opponents, but he doesn't get the respect he deserves because the franchise has been run so poorly. Come to think of it, who do we have?

Here's my Top 10:

1. Andre Johnson. I have no idea what his national profile is, but he's great on the field and off. It's a crying shame his best years have so far been on a terrible team.

2. Mario Williams. He has yet to become the game-wrecking defensive player he was supposed to be, but he's still one of the few Texans virtually every NFL fan knows.

3. Matt Schaub. I don't know of anyone on the Rockets or Astros who is more well known around America. He didn't have his best year in 2010, but if the Texans ever got really good, he might shoot to No. 1.

4. Arian Foster. This is where things got tough. I couldn't think of an Astro or Rocket with a higher profile. Fantasy leaguers love Arian Foster and serious NFL fans came to appreciate his greatness in 2010. As with the first three, he could be a really big star if the Texans started to win.

5. Brett Myers. I thought about putting Kevin Kolb No. 1 overall, but since he doesn't play for the Astros, Texans or Rockets, he's not eligible. He was a big deal in Philly, which raises his presence around the country. I think.

6. Aaron Brooks. I told you this wasn't going to be easy.

7. Shane Battier. Once upon a time, he was a household name. That was back when he was a Blue Devil. Since then, he has disappeared into the black hole of Houston sports.

8. Brittney Griner. Sure, I said she wasn't eligible. I changed my mind.

9. Kevin Kolb. See above.

10.Clutch.

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.



(chron.com)

Andre Johnson underwent what he called successful ankle surgery Wednesday, the same day he was named first-team Sporting News All-Pro.

Johnson, a wide receiver for the Houston Texans, missed the final two games of the regular season after playing through a high-ankle sprain throughout all but one game of the regular season.

Johnson said via Twitter he underwent surgery Wednesday.

"Thanks everyone for your support," Johnson tweeted Wednesday afternoon. "The procedure on my ankle went very well."

Johnson, a five-time Pro Bowl selection who pulled out of this year's game Monday, was one of two Texans players named Sporting News first-team All-Pro Monday.

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.



(nfl.fanhouse.com)

Need some more proof of the greatness (on one side of the ball) the Texans had last season? They are the only team in the NFL with two All-Pros on offense as the Sporting News’ team was unveiled today.

Running back Arian Foster led the NFL in rushing and was probably a sure bet to take home this honor. But Andre Johnson also turned the trick, this despite playing in only 13 games. The Texans as a whole can keep playing the ‘no respect’ card, but it’s clear that Johnson has plenty of it.

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.



(sbnation.com)

Tim Graham of the AFC East Blog and Buffalo chapter of the Jar Jar Binks Fan Club reports that Wes Welker is into the Pro Bowl as a replacement for Andre Johnson.

It’s hardly a surprise that Johnson won’t head to Hawaii. He played through an ankle injury for the majority of the season before missing the Texans’ final three games.

He still finished sixth in the NFL with 1,216 receiving yards.

Johnson’s continued presence, quite frankly, did a excellent bit of work in saving Gary Kubiak’s job. Bob McNair likes the offense so much, he couldn’t bear to take away the guy who constructed it and called its plays.

With Matt Schaub throwing to Johnson, and perhaps to an upgraded No. 2 receiver, and with Arian Foster carrying the ball and contributing to the passing game, the Texans should be a potent offense next year, particularly if they can figure out how not to start so slowly.

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.



(espn.com)

Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson disclosed today that he will have arthroscopic surgery on his right ankle next week. Johnson will miss Sunday's regular-season finale against Jacksonville with what has been described as a high ankle sprain he suffered in the second game of the season in Washington. Johnson, who was just named to his fifth Pro Bowl, finishes the season with 86 catches for 1,216 yards and eight touchdowns. Dr. Kevin Varner the director of Director of Orthopedic Services at The Methodist Hospital, will perform the surgery. Varner is recognized as one of the foremost foot specialists in the country.

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(gridironfans.com)

HOUSTON – Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson said after Sunday’s season finale he doesn’t think he’ll play in the upcoming Pro Bowl.

"I don’t think I’ll be able to play," said Johnson. "I’ll be getting my scope done next Wednesday and I don’t think I’ll be ready to go."

Johnson has missed the last two games because of an ankle injury he sustained during Week 2 against the Washington Redskins.

"Even if I was ready to go, I don’t think I would risk it," said the now 6-time Pro Bowler. "Just having that procedure done you wouldn’t want to go out there and do anything crazy on it."

Johnson had 86 receptions for 1,216 yards and 8 touchdowns in 2010.

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.



(khou.com)

HOUSTON -- Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson will undergo surgery on his ailing right ankle some time next week.

The Chronicle reported on Friday that Johnson will have the arthroscopic procedure done at the Methodist Hospital by Dr. Keith Varner -- one of the foremost foot and ankle specialists in the country.

Johnson suffered what was termed a high ankle sprain back in Week 2 against Washington but played through the pain for most of the year. However, he will sit out Sunday's season-finale against Jacksonville.

The eighth-year pro out of Miami-Florida racked up 86 catches for 1,216 yards and eight touchdowns over 13 games in 2010, and earned his fifth career Pro Bowl selection with the effort.

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.



(slam.canoe.com)