CLEVELAND -- Veteran wide receiver Anthony Miller is inactive for Sunday's road game against the Cleveland Browns.
Miller was held out of the season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars as a precautionary measure after he returned to practice last week from a dislocated right shoulder suffered in the preseason against the Green Bay Packers.
Miller is not on the injury report and is regarded as healthy now. The Texans haven't needed him, though, at this early stage of the season.
Danny Amendola, signed last week to a one-year, $2.5 million contract, operated as the slot and caught five passes and one touchdown.
A former Chicago Bears second-round draft pick, Miller didn't sustain any structural damage when he got hurt at Lambeau Field.
Miller previously underwent surgeries on his left shoulder while playing for the Bears after experiencing dislocations.
Texans coach David Culley was noncommittal when asked how the playing time will be divided with Miller's return and Amendola catching every pass he was targeted on against the Jaguars.
Traded to the Texans along with a 2022 seventh-round draft pick in exchange for a 2022 fifth-round draft pick the day before players reported to training camp, Miller is entering the final year of his four-year, $5.353 million rookie contract that includes a $1.21 million base salary this season.
Miller was linked to multiple trade rumors throughout the offseason after catching 134 career passes for 1,564 yards and 11 touchdowns during his time with the Bears before being traded to the Texans.
After catching seven touchdowns as a rookie, Miller combined for just four touchdowns over the past two seasons.
The Texans' other inactives: embattled Pro Bowl quarterback Deshaun Watson, who has a standing trade request and legal problems, cornerback Jimmy Moreland, rookie tight end Brevin Jordan, defensive end Jon Greenard, who returned to practice last week from a sprained ankle suffered in the preseason, defensive tackle DeMarcus Walker and running back Scottie Phillips.
With Vincent Taylor on injured reserve with an ankle injury that required surgery, rookie defensive tackle Roy Lopez is expected to be the primary interior defensive tackle along with Jaleel Johnson, who was signed off the New Orleans Saints' practice squad.
Aaron Wilson has covered the NFL for 20 seasons, including the Texans, Baltimore Ravens, Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars. He has previously written for The Houston Chronicle and The Baltimore Sun. He’s on Twitter: @AaronWilson_NFL and Instagram: @aaronwilson7128.
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