ESPN AFC South Blog

Posted by ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky

Brown

HOUSTON -- Injured players aren't usually divided into categories. There is no special classification for unlucky injuries.

But Texans running back Chris Brown said his injury issues in Tennessee -- specifically a turf toe and a high ankle sprain -- were a result of getting fallen on, something he said he can hardly control.

Coach Gary Kubiak said his only request of Brown once he joined the Texans was that he participate fully in the offseason program, and he did.

"I think the key is if we can keep him a little fresher than he has been in the past," Kubiak said. "In our rotation with him and Ahman [Green], maybe we will find another level. When he has been on the field in this league and healthy, he's been very productive."

But Brown's already landed in the doghouse from the tone of Kubiak's answer when asked why Brown, who already missed a day of practice to attend a wedding, wasn't part of the team's padded practice this morning.

"His back was bothering him when he came in this morning," Kubiak said. "He's a day behind already, he needs to get back out here."

Brown is as mild-mannered as they come, yet he can play with ferocity. For the Titans he ran for 170 yards on just 19 carries in an opening day win last season. In 2004, he topped 100 yards in five of the team's first eight games. But he always seemed to wind up inactive with something.

He said he remembered all the specifics connected to his turf toe in four years ago, his first as Tennessee's starter. It was the result of a defensive tackle falling on the back of his foot while he was pushing off, which hyperextended the toe and "messed with some ligaments and the joint." That cost him five of his team's final seven games.

"Those are unfortunate breaks, being a little unlucky with people falling on you a little wrong," he said. "There is really nothing you can do to train for that. You try to get your feet out of there as much as you can... You can't be worried about getting hurt, sometimes unlucky things happen."

Brown's reputation in Nashville was that he couldn't, or wouldn't, play through things.

With a fresh start and Kubiak's confidence -- if he can hold on to it -- perhaps he gets a little better luck and has the opportunity to show additional toughness. Perhaps Steve Slaton or Chris Taylor or Darius Walker take advantage of the extra chances they get when Brown's out.