Andre Johnson Injury: Will Defenses Stack Box, Attack Arian Foster?

Andre Johnson left the Houston Texans' Week 4 game with a non-contact hamstring injury, and he looked to be in serious pain as he hobbled off the field. Until he gets an MRI on Monday no one knows for sure how long the five-time Pro Bowler will be out, but it's safe to say he will miss time. Some inside Houston's organization believe Johnson will miss a few weeks.

If Johnson is out for an extended period of time, the ripple effect will be significant for the Texans offense. While Houston did beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 17-10 on Sunday, the team's passing attack looked anemic once Johnson left the game. Quarterback Matt Schaub completed 14 of 21 passes for 138 yards and a touchdown in the game, and without his top target the Texans shouldn't scare anyone through the air.

That means Houston will have to rely on running back Arian Foster, who returned to full-time duty with a bang on Sunday, rushing 30 times for 155 yards and a touchdown. But with Johnson out, opposing defenses are sure to stack the box and dare Schaub to beat them throwing to backup receivers Jacoby Jones and Kevin Walter.

On Sunday Schaub showed just how little trust he has in Johnson's backups, as they combined for zero catches and were only targeted twice. Johnson provides his quarterback with a steady pair of hands and a deep threat that helps keep defenses honest. Without him, the Texans really only have tight ends Owen Daniels and James Casey as threats in the passing game.

Walter and Jones aren't even close to Johnson's level and the Texans' current dilemma shows exactly why the Atlanta Falcons traded up 21 spots and sent five picks to the Cleveland Browns in order to select Julio Jones with the No. 6 pick in the 2011 NFL draft. Jones gives the Falcons another threat alongside Roddy White in the passing game and if White were to go down, Matt Ryan would have another solid option available.

As of now, the Texans are sure to focus on the running game while Schaub develops confidence in Jones and Walter. If Johnson is out for a while, Foster will be facing a lot of eight-man fronts and could find it difficult to put up big numbers running the football.