National Football League

Kubiak optimistic on Foster for opener

Published Aug. 28, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Houston Texans coach Gary Kubiak is optimistic Arian Foster will be ready for the regular-season opener after the running back aggravated a hamstring injury in Saturday's preseason victory over San Francisco.

Foster, the NFL's leading rusher in 2010, left the field in the first quarter of Houston's 30-7 victory, favoring the left hamstring that he strained in one of the first workouts of training camp. Kubiak said Sunday that head athletic trainer Geoff Kaplan offered a ''very positive'' outlook for Foster's recovery, though Kubiak is still concerned about Foster's readiness for the Sept. 11 opener against Indianapolis.

Kubiak also said All-Pro linebacker DeMeco Ryans will return to practice on Monday. Ryans did not travel with the team to San Francisco because of an elbow injury.