For the past two years, Texans cornerback Kevin Johnson has dealt with the same injury.
Johnson suffered a Jones fracture in the same foot that required surgery to repair the damage each time.
A year ago, his season ended in October against the Indianapolis Colts.
Now, the Texans are counting heavily on the former first-round draft pick remaining healthy as the primary replacement for A.J. Bouye after he signed a five-year, $67.5 million contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars in March.
Johnson has shed the rust he accumulated over the past year and has had setbacks with his foot and is reacting quickly to passes.