Season over for Texans RB Green

Nov 25, 2008 - 9:11 PM HOUSTON (Ticker) -- Houston Texans running back Ahman Green was placed on season-ending injured reserve Tuesday.

Green suffered a sprained knee in Sunday's 16-6 win over the Cleveland Browns, and with just five games left in the season, coach Gary Kubiak opted to put Green on IR, essentially ending his stay in Houston.

Kubiak said that doctors were worried that Green, 31, would miss several weeks, and the Texans (4-7) - a long shot to make the postseason - could not afford to wait for him to get healthy at this point in the campaign.

"It's a tough decision for us because you're at a tough period in the season," Kubiak said. "If a player's going to miss a week or two, that's one thing. But if you're looking at three or four weeks, now you start to make different decisions on players at this point in the season because you don't have that many weeks left."

Green, who will end up making about $11 million over his two seasons in Houston, already had sat out three full games this year due to knee and groin ailments. The oft-injured running back played in just six games a season ago.

An 11-year veteran, Green served mainly as the backup to rookie Steve Slaton this season, rushing for 294 yards and three touchdowns on 74 carries.

Slaton remains a bit a question mark for Monday's home game against Jacksonville (4-7) due to a severe chest bruise, and backup running back Ryan Moats practiced only once last week because of an ankle injury.