Reed’s status still a game-time decision
Free safety Ed Reed will be a game-time decision for the second week in a row, according to Texans coach Gary Kubiak.
Reed, who still is recovering from arthroscopic hip surgery April 30, was inactive for the San Diego game and replaced by Shiloh Keo, who played well in the first start of his three-year career.
Keo again will start against Tennessee on Sunday at Reliant Stadium.
“I feel much better this week than I felt last week,” Reed said. “I’m still breaking up scar tissue. I want to play, but I’ve got to be smart.”
Reed was an expensive cheerleader during the 3128 victory at San Diego. He helped coach the defensive backs.
”These are my boys,” Reed said. “I’m supposed to give my knowledge away. I’m happy to do it. I know my role. I was on the sideline encouraging them. I was so excited I had to get the oxygen tank.”
Kubiak hasn’t ruled out Reed from coming off the bench against the Titans.
“He actually practiced a little more with the pads on than he did last week,” Kubiak said. “We’re probably working toward game day again.”
‘Muddle huddle’ OK with Schaub
When the Texans fell behind San Diego 28-7 in the third quarter, they had to rely on a hurry-up offense in which quarterback Matt Schaub was under pressure to bring them from behind.
Coach Gary Kubiak calls the hurry-up offense the “muddle huddle” and knows howwell Schaub usually responds in those situations.
“No. 1, he’s so smart,” Kubiak said. “He can handle a lot of players on the line of scrimmage and get them right. That’s part of the battle. I think he gets into a rhythm and gets comfortable with what he’s doing.”
Kubiak was asked if he has been tempted to run the offense before the situation gets desperate.
“We do,” he said. “We let Matt operate on the line of scrimmage with the muddle huddle if wewant to pick up the tempo or start the game. It’s something that we can always do.
“Obviously, (at San Diego) wewere down three scores with eight minutes left in the third quarter. We had to push the tempo, and once we started pushing the tempo, I think we felt good about it, so there was no reason to stop.”
Phillips is down with Vanilla Ice
In keeping with the “Liberty White Out” theme for the Texans’ home opener Sunday, fans have been asked to wear white, and Vanilla Ice will perform at halftime with the Texans cheerleaders.
At the end of his interview Thursday, defensive coordinator Wade Phillips was asked if he is a fan of Vanilla Ice.
“‘Ice, ice, baby’ is all I know,” Phillips said.