Texans place Daniels on IR
Houston Texans tight end Owen Daniels will miss a minimum of eight weeks after the team placed him on injured reserve with the designation to return, ESPN reported Wednesday.
Original estimates put Daniels' recovery at four to six weeks from a non-displaced fibula fracture suffered late in Sunday night's loss to the San Francisco 49ers. With the IR designation, the earliest he could return is a Dec. 5 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The 30-year-old Daniels has proved one of the Texans' most durable players the past two years, missing ony two games.
This season, Daniels has 24 receptions for 252 yards and shares the team lead in touchdowns with three. In 2012, Daniels finished with 62 catches for 716 yards and a career-best six touchdowns.
Garrett Graham, who also has three touchdown receptions this season, will replace Daniels in the starting lineup. Rookie sixth-round draft pick Ryan Griffin also is expected to receive more playing time in Houston's two-tight end sets.
