Andre Johnson Injury: Derailing the Texans Chances at First Ever Postseason?

Andre Johnson's injury carries significance on multiple levels in the eyes of an NFL fan.

When he went down in the open field untouched during this weekend's showdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers, it drew eerie comparisions to Wes Welker's injury in Houston less than two years ago, which ended his season from a torn ACL and MCL in his left knee.

Andre Johnson's injury however, has been classified as a lower hamstring issue, yet the lack of definitive information around the injury raises concern.

As the Houston Texans sit at 3-1, tied for the division lead in an injury riddled and talent depleted AFC South, how will this team respond to its latest injury-related adversity?

Rookie running back Ben Tate picked up the slack in the first three games of the 2011 season, when the Texans had limited production from starter Arian Foster, who ironically suffered a hamstring injury of his own. But will the rest of the offense be able to fill the void left by a receiver widely regarded as the best in the entire NFL?

Since their inception in 2002, the Houston Texans have never made the playoffs, posting only one winning record during that time frame and finishing at 9-7 in 2009. Now with Peyton Manning likely sidelined for the year with a neck injury, and a rebuilding Jacksonville Jaguars team starting a rookie quarterback, their only true competition for the division title seems to be the overachieving Tennessee Titans, lead by veteran Matt Hasselbeck and franchise player Chris Johnson, who has yet to hit his stride after a lengthy offseason lockout.

Andre Johnson's health is a critical component to the success of the Texans in their quest for their first AFC South title, and any chance of a Super Bowl bid. This pressure has truly trickled down through the media, and the lack of information around his injury has fantasy football owners and Texans fans alike on the edge of their seats yearning for updates.

Today, ESPN reported that Johnson underwent a "procedure" to repair his right hamstring, while another source also told the Houston Chronicle that he underwent a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy to speed up his recovery, which is apparently far different than any previously rumored surgical procedure.

At this moment, the timetable on Andre Johnson that we can assess from a variety of sources is anywhere from two to six weeks.

NFL fans should breathe a sigh of relief that at the least, Johnson appears primed for a second half return, aiming to propel his playoff-famished Texans to their first postseason in franchise history.