Texans veteran cornerback Johnathan Joseph made a relatively healthy return Saturday night against the Cincinnati Bengals, albeit with the help of a pain-killer to ease the soreness.
Joseph returned from a two-game absence after suffering cracked ribs and a bruised lung against the Green Bay Packers.
Joseph didn't start, working in and recording two tackles as A.J. Bouye got the start.
"It felt great to be back out there on the field running around with the guys," Joseph said. "I wasn't in much pain. Obviously, I was numbed up. We'll see how it feels [Sunday]."
Texans outside linebacker John Simon had one tackle in his first game back from a pectoral injury that sidelined him four games after he got hurt in a road loss to the Oakland Raiders in Mexico City.