Arian Foster Injury: Updates on Texans Star's Groin and Return

Running back Arian Foster has been the driving force behind the Houston Texans offense in recent years, but the oft-injured 29-year-old has been on the shelf since he injured his groin on Aug. 3 and underwent surgery on Aug. 7.

Continue for updates.

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Foster's Playing Status for Week 4

Sunday, Oct. 4

Texans PR did not list Foster among the team's inactives against the Atlanta Falcons, marking Sunday as the first time this season that he's active.

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O'Brien Comments on Foster's Progress

Thursday, Oct. 1

O'Brien said Foster looked "good" in practice, according to Drew Dougherty of the Texans. O'Brien added Foster would be used in "some capacity" when he was ready to play, according to Dale Robertson of the Houston Chronicle.

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Foster Comments on Injury

Thursday, Sept. 24 

"I feel wonderful," Foster said, noting he didn't have a timetable to return yet, per Dougherty.

"I'm going to make sure I'm [100 percent] so I'm not jeopardizing myself or my teammates," Foster continued, per the Texans.

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Latest on RB's Recovery Timeline

Wednesday, Sept. 23

Tania Ganguli of ESPN passed along comments from Foster, who said "he'd need to feel as close to 100 percent as possible before returning to the playing field."

"Sources emphasize Arian Foster rehab from groin surgery progressing well, hope is he's back late September, early October at latest," Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reported Sept. 5. Wilson previously noted the "best-case scenario" if Foster doesn't suffer a setback would be an end-of-September return date. 

Jayson Braddock of ESPN 97.5 in Houston reported Aug. 27 the expectation was for Foster to return to the field in some capacity somewhere between Weeks 2 and 4. 

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McNair Comments on Foster's Injury

Thursday, Aug. 6

"Can't say I'm surprised," Texans owner Bob McNair said, per McClain. "It seems like every year he's had a soft tissue injury. We keep our fingers crossed." McNair added, "He seems [to be] vulnerable to those types of things. We believe he'll come back this season and help us."

The Texans narrowly missed the postseason last season. While questions about their quarterback situation persist, Foster has been reliable when on the field.

With the exception of the 2013 season, in which he missed eight games with an injured back, the former University of Tennessee standout has topped 1,200 rushing yards every year since 2010. Despite missing three contests with a hamstring injury last season, he put up 1,578 total yards and 14 touchdowns.

There were understandably some questions regarding Foster's health entering the 2015 season, but he remained coy, per David Nuno of ABC 13 in Houston:

While Houston may have some capable depth at its disposal, no other running back on the roster is able to keep opposing defenses off-balance quite like Foster, as Trey Wingo of ESPN noted:

With Foster out of the lineup, the Texans have managed 345 yards on the ground, an average of 3.8 yards per carry, good enough for the 12th-best mark in the league. However, Houston will be excited to eventually regain the added dimension Foster brings to the rushing attack.

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