Arian Foster Hamstring Injury: Why Texans RB Injury Gives Colts Fighting Chance

Houston’s inability to turn to running back Arian Foster today was completely expected, given the seriousness of his hamstring injury, but that doesn’t mean the Texans will have to turn away from the running game entirely.

They have some faith in fullback Lawrence Vickers, and the Texans also have some alternatives in Ben Tate and Derrick Ward. Also, it seems more likely they can turn to former 1000-yard man Steve Slaton, who, despite recent hamstring issues of his own, shared snaps in practice this week with Tate and Ward while Foster’s availability was listed as "uncertain."

And the quality of the Houston offensive line is going to smooth the path for any one taking hand offs from quarterback Matt Schaub.

That said, being without the NFL’s rushing leader from last year has got to put more pressuring on the passing game to click under Schaub. He seems up to the challenge, having thrown for 9,140 yards and 53 touchdowns the past two seasons. Much of that has gone to wide receiver Andre Johnson, who doesn’t have to take a back seat to anyone at his position. And the Texans believe that oft-injured tight tend Owen Daniels has shed his knee and hamstring problems that have limited him the last two seasons.

Still, there is the matter of history. The Texans have underperformed against their Week 1 opponent, the Indianapolis Colts, for years—Houston is just 2-16 against Indy—and it clearly would have been an easier assignment to turn that around had Foster been healthy.