Texans to start Lonnie Johnson Jr., Terrence Brooks still under observation

One game after being benched for a road loss the Indianapolis Colts, Texans safety Lonnie Johnson Jr. is expected to regain his starting job Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals.

Texans safety Terrence Brooks remains in Indianapolis under medical observation with a lung contusion and could potentially travel back to Houstonon Monday night, if not Tuesday.

Brooks got hurt in the end zone at Lucas Oil Stadium during a 31-3 defeat while defending Colts wide receiver Parris Campbell on a 51-yard touchdown catch. Brooks is ruled out for Sunday's road game in Arizona and it's unclear when he'll be back.

That means that Johnson, a physically imposing former second-round draft pick from Kentucky, will be back in the lineup. Texans coach David Culley affirmed that Johnson will return to his former role and Eric Murray, a former starter who only played on special teams against the Colts, will also be called upon against Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray and former Texans All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.

"Obviously, Terrence isn't going to be able to play this week," Culley said. "I'm not sure how long it will be. Lonnie went in and played and will basically start this game this coming week, obviously with those guys at safety with Eric being back there also. We basically have been playing those guys (in combination), the defensive line, too, and we'll do the same thing going forward."

Houston Texans v Indianapolis Colts

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Johnson was chasing wide receiver T.Y. Hilton on a 51-yard reception in the first half after replacing Brooks.

In the third quarter, after rookie quarterback Davis Mills was intercepted by linebacker Darius Leonard, tight end Mo Alie-Cox got behind cornerback Desmond King and in front of Johnson as the 6-foot-2, 213-pound defensive back retreated deep into the end zone and couldn't react in time to stop him from scoring a touchdown.

"Going back to the inconsistency, because we've got a guy out of position as far as reading his keys," Culley said without specifically referencing any culpable player. "And if he was back where he should have been in that particular situation, that touchdown doesn't happen. To change things you have to change. Just reading our keys, we've been inconsistent at doing that."

Culley underscored that, if the results don't change soon, the personnel on the field will undoubtedly be different. 

Culley said he has explained many times that the Texans' margin for error is extremely thin. They don't have to necessarily execute perfectly, but they have to cut down on their mistakes to have a chance to be competitive.

"Not to this point, we haven't understood that," Culley said. "Again, that's my job to make that point to them to get them to change the results and what's happening in these ball games. That has to happen.

"We're going to emphasize it in our meetings. That's the only way we get it done and get a change. Obviously, if it's not getting done and the same guys are doing it again and again, we'll put somebody else in there."

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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