Gary Kubiak: 'Ben Tate could play for Houston Texans on Friday'

Gary Kubiak has said that Ben Tate may be able to play in the Houston Texans' opening pre-season game later this week.

The running back returned to practice yesterday following a three-day absence with a tight groin.

The head coach told the Texans' official website: "I'm going to watch him practice in the morning. He'll be back on the field in the morning with all the indications I have and we'll go from there. It will either be Tate or [Dennis Johnson]. One or the other.

"My protocol has been play our starters for a little bit, for a series or two. Then to play our twos for a good quarter-and-a-half and then play our threes in the last quarter or quarter-and-a-half depending on how that goes."

The Texans face the Minnesota Vikings on Friday.