National Football League

Foster's injury creates chance for Tate

Published Sep. 23, 2011 11:42 p.m. ET

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Two games into his NFL career, Ben Tate isn't thinking much about the elite group he's already joined.

The Houston Texans' running back is the 11th player in league history to open his career with back-to-back 100-yard games, a list that includes Earl Campbell, Billy Sims, Marshall Faulk and Edgerrin James.

Carnell ''Cadillac'' Williams is the only running back to reach 100 yards rushing in his first three games. Tate will probably have a chance to match Williams on Sunday when Houston (2-0) plays at New Orleans (1-1), because 2010 NFL leading rusher Arian Foster is still limited by a left hamstring strain.

''It's an awesome group to even just be mentioned with those guys, but it's just the start to my career,'' Tate said. ''Honestly, I haven't taken time to really think about it, but I would have to say it's important. I guess it's a big thing that it happened.''

Despite Tate's fast start, Houston coach Gary Kubiak said Foster will regain his starting role when he's fit enough to play. Foster took some snaps in Friday's practice, and will be re-evaluated Saturday.

''It's tough,'' Foster said. ''I think it's more mental than it is anything because like I said before, it's not something you can really push through. It's not something that you can play with at 100 percent, so you just got to be patient with it. It's just got to work that way.''

Tate can relate to Foster's frustration. The former Auburn star was a second-round pick by the Texans in 2010, then broke his right ankle in Houston's first preseason game and was placed on injured reserve.

And like Foster, Tate was hampered by a hamstring injury during training camp this year. Kubiak became concerned with how much practice time Tate was missing, but Tate has proven to be a quick learner.

''It's fun to watch,'' Kubiak said, ''when you get a guy who's talented, just watching them try to become a pro or as they become a pro, I guess is a good way to put it. He was out last year. He did study. He stayed in his book. He comes into camp this year, he misses a little time, he just kept working.''

Tate saw his first live action in more than a year in Houston's second preseason game, rushing for 95 yards and a touchdown in a 27-14 win over New Orleans.

''He's got good balance and vision,'' Saints coach Sean Payton said. ''Certainly, you wouldn't have guessed that he hadn't played, so he's been exciting to watch, or follow, if you will. I think he certainly carries his pads well. He's explosive. He's got good vision and I think he's someone that's very elusive.''

Foster was inactive for the Texans' season-opening win over Indianapolis, and when backup Derrick Ward left the game with a sprained right ankle, Tate made the most of his long-delayed opportunity, rushing 24 times for 116 yards and a touchdown. He ran for 103 yards in a 23-13 win in Miami last week, helping the Texans keep the clock moving late with 13 carries in the fourth quarter.

''I think that's us telling how much confidence we have in him,'' Kubiak said. ''The way he was carrying that ball in the last 10 minutes of the game, there was no doubt who had control of what was going on. That player right there is telling you by how he's playing to `Give it to me. I can get it handled,' so hopefully that continues to grow.''

Tate expects to have some challenging blocking assignments on Sunday against the Saints' blitz-heavy defense. But Tate downplays the difficulty of the transition from college, and says he's confident that he can handle pro-level pass protection as well as he's handled his rushes.

''The defenses are more complex,'' Tate said. ''They bring different blitzes, and you have to deal with more blitzes. Other than that, at the end of the day, it's football. I wouldn't say it's hard to figure out. Everybody knows that protecting the quarterback is important.''

Eventually, Foster will get his job back, and Tate will be relegated to a reserve role once again. For now, Tate isn't fazed by that.

''I can't worry about what's going on with Arian,'' Tate said. ''The only thing I can focus on is me.''

Notes: Kubiak was optimistic that WRs Jacoby Jones (bruised left knee) and Kevin Walter (bruised right shoulder) will be ready to play by Sunday, even though Jones has sat out team drills this week. ... Seventh-round draft pick Derek Newton will move into backup tackle Rashad Butler's spot on the depth chart. Butler was placed on injured reserve this week with an elbow injury.

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