Texans, Niners "Rest" Starters

 

The race to worst place can't get started fast enough for the Texans and the 49ers. The two teams square off this Sunday in San Francisco, and should the Texans lose, they assure themselves the first overall pick in the 2006 draft. A Texans win would give the 49ers an outside hope at "earning" the coveted top spot.

 

With so much on the line, is it any surprise that both teams have already told key starters to sit this game out? Yes, we're (mostly) joking.

 

The Texans sent running back Domanick Davis to the injured reserve on Wednesday. Davis, who has missed the last two games, had arthroscopic knee surgery to repair an area irritated in recent weeks by inflammation. In missing Sunday's grand finale, Davis, who has 976 yards on the ground this season, will not eclipse the 1,000-yard rushing milestone for the third straight year.

 

To make matters worse (wink, wink), Davis' replacement, Jonathan Wells, missed practice yesterday to nurse a bruised thigh. Should Wells be unable to play against the 49ers, expect rookie Vernand Morency to get the start at running back.

 

Oh, but the 49ers countered the sad Texans news when they sent their starting runnning back, Kevan Barlow, to the injured reserve on Wednesday. San Francisco will also likely turn its rushing attack over to a rookie, Frank Gore.

 

Ah! But the Texans also finally bid farewell to defensive end Gary Walker for the season as well. The team sent the former Pro Bowler to the injured reserve after he underwent surgery this week to mend a torn triceps muscle. Take that, Niners.

 

http://www.houstonprofootball.com/

I'll laugh if the team that's losing at the end starts taking a knee.