HOUSTON -- The Houston Texans' receiver position is a bit of a linchpin this week with the return of the greatest one in franchise history on the opposing sideline.
The Texans will be going into Thursday's game against Andre Johnson and the Indianapolis Colts without two of their top three receivers. Nate Washington (hamstring) and Cecil Shorts (dislocated shoulder) have been declared out. Washington suffered the injury in the first half of Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons. Shorts was hurt on the last play of the game.
That leaves the Texans with four healthy receivers -- starter DeAndre Hopkins and rookies Chandler Worthy, Jaelen Strong and Keith Mumphery.
Of those rookies, Mumphery has been the biggest contributor to the Texans' offense this season. Mumphery has played 84 offensive snaps this season while Worthy, an undrafted rookie, has played 10. Strong hasn't played yet. Playing behind Hopkins, Shorts and Washington, Mumphery has six catches for 79 yards.
Mumphery has also been used in the Texans' return game, as has Worthy. Both got some of those responsibilities taken away after early struggles.
This is a big opportunity for those three players. It's a chance for Mumphery to show he can handle a bigger load -- which he showed signs of being able to do in the preseason and during training camp. Mumphery hasn't been perfect by any means, but he's already showing himself to have been a solid draft choice in the fifth round this season. The Texans were the only team to work him out coming out of Michigan State.
For Strong and Worthy, it's an opportunity to show they can contribute.
"Both Jaelen and Chandler, those players have gotten a lot of reps in the preseason," offensive coordinator George Godsey said. "Jaelen has slowly improved to the process here. They're going to have to step up I think. We've talked about it with the offensive line. That's one thing that goes into your name as an NFL football player. You have to be ready when your number is called and you have to be ready to perform. Those guys fit into that mold right now."
