Andre Johnson Injury: Inactive Star Wideout Will Be Texans' Downfall vs. Bengals

After missing six games with a torn right hamstring, Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson returned last week against the Atlanta Falcons. Johnson pulled his left hamstring in that game, however, and will miss Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

According to Nick Scurfield of the Texans' official website, Texans head coach Gary Kubiak has officially ruled Johnson out for the team's Week 14 game as he has been unable to practice. His absence will be huge as the Texans face a Bengals team that is fighting for its playoff life.

At 7-5, the Bengals are doing battle with the New York Jets, Oakland Raiders and Tennessee Titans for the AFC's final wild-card spot. The Texans have a bit more breathing room as they lead the Titans by two games in the AFC South with a record of 9-3, but that lead could dissipate quickly.

Houston was able to excel in Johnson's previous absence, but injuries are beginning to mount for the team. Starting quarterback Matt Schaub was lost for the season with a Lisfranc foot injury, while backup quarterback Matt Leinart suffered a broken collarbone.

That means that the starting job now belongs to fifth-round rookie T.J. Yates out of North Carolina. He is the starter. While Yates performed admirably in his first career start last week in a win over the Falcons, it is unlikely that he can put a team on his back like Schaub could.

With Johnson out, the focal point of Houston's offense will undoubtedly be do-everything running back Arian Foster. However, the Bengals feature one of the league's best run defenses. If they can hold Foster in check, it will force Yates to beat them.

That would have been a tall task even with Johnson in the lineup. However, without the All-Pro receiver, Yates will have to rely on shaky options like Kevin Walter and Jacoby Jones as well as tight end Owen Daniels.

The Bengals will likely be a more desperate team on Sunday, and they will also be at home, so an already difficult test has become that much tougher for the Texans. Without any type of support on offense, I believe Foster may have a difficult time being his usual effective self on Sunday.

Houston does have an excellent defense, but it won't have much help from the offense. The Bengals, on the other hand, have enough offensive pop with rookie quarterback Andy Dalton and rookie wide receiver A.J. Green to nip the Texans in a crucial AFC tilt.