NFL

Texans LB Cushing injured, won't play against KC

By KRISTIE RIEKEN
AP Sports Writer

HOUSTON(AP) -- The Houston Texans' top draft pick, linebacker
Brian Cushing, won't play in Saturday's preseason opener against
the Chiefs because of a left knee injury.

Cushing did not practice on Wednesday and instead watched the
workout with a brace on his knee. Coach Gary Kubiak said the
knee started bothering Cushing on Tuesday night and he was taken
for an MRI. It was not immediately clear how serious the injury
is.

"I just know that we're in an evaluation process right now and
we're not going to know anything for a few days," Kubiak said.
"But he's going to miss some time."

Cushing, the 15th overall pick in the draft, is expected to
start at outside linebacker. The four-year starter at Southern
California led the nation's second-ranked defense with 10 1/2
tackles for losses last year.

Houston shuffled its healthy outside linebackers on Wednesday to
deal with Cushing's absence. Kubiak moved Zac Diles from the
weak side to take over Cushing's spot on the strong side. That
left Kevin Bentley, who has been the backup for DeMeco Ryans in
the middle, as the starter on the weak side.

Diles, who is in his third season, started the first eight games
of 2008 before breaking his left leg in practice.

"We rose to the occasion this morning and it's about opportunity
as I always tell you," Kubiak said. "Zac makes an unselfish move
for the team to go back and go to work at (strong side)."

After naming Cushing the starter almost immediately after the
draft, Kubiak isn't looking forward to working without him.

"You hate to see him miss the time but he's going to be there,"
Kubiak said. "He's just going to miss some time right now.
Naturally you want the group to stay together and work together,
so we've got some problems from that standpoint, but that's
life."