Texans linebacker Christian Harris practiced with the team for the first time since reaggravating a calf strain during training camp.
Harris, widely considered Houston's best and rangiest coverage linebacker, missed all 13 of the Texans' (8-5) games leading into the bye week. He practiced for the first time Monday, signaling a potential return when the Texans host the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.
Last season, Harris had the most solo tackles for the Texans and was often tasked with spying athletic quarterbacks like Baltimore Ravens MVP Lamar Jackson, who Houston played against twice and will face again on Christmas.
Getting Harris back is a welcomed site, especially with middle linebacker and team captain Azeez Al-Shaair suspended the next three games after an illegal hit on Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
If Harris plays, it would allow Henry To'oTo'o to slide into Al-Shaair's role, while both former Alabama linebackers would be playing their natural positions.
Texans left guard Kenyon Green also returned to practice Monday. It was a surprise, considering he was expected to miss the rest of the season with a shoulder injury suffered in their Week 9 loss to the New York Jets. Though Green struggled mightily in pass protection before the shoulder injury, he is considered one of the Texans' better run blockers and could benefit them in that aspect of the game.
