Texans offensive guard Greg Mancz is a valuable enough backup that the team signed him a two-year, $7.913 million contract extension this year.
Mancz started every game at center two years ago when center Nick Martin was on injured reserve.
Now, Mancz is preparing to start again at right guard Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts and has practiced with the first-team offense all week. Starting guard Zach Fulton has a hand injury and hasn't practiced all week.
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"Yeah, he's done that many times for us," Texans coach Bill O'Brien said of Mancz, who has started three of 12 games.