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Houston drafted Texas A&M standout Randy Bullock in the fifth round, then signed veteran Shayne Graham to challenge Bullock for the job. Kubiak is looking for a replacement for Neil Rackers, who signed with Washington in the offseason. Rackers went 32 for 38 for Houston last season.

Kubiak will get his first look at his kickers in action when Houston (No. 6 in the AP Pro32) opens the preseason at Carolina (20, AP Pro 32) on Saturday. He'll decide Thursday night how he'll split the opportunities for Bullock and Graham, and says he'll be watching kickoffs as closely as field-goal tries.

"We'll do everything we can to make it right down the middle," Kubiak said. "It's hard. You can't give them games because one may get more kicks than others, so we'll probably just rotate back and forth."

Bullock is the most accurate kicker in Texas A&M history, connecting on 63 of 80 attempts (78.8 percent) in four seasons. He set single-season school records for points (142), field goals (29) and extra-points (55) in 2011 to win the Lou Groza Award, given annually to the nation's top kicker.

Graham, 34, has bounced around the league as an injury replacement following seven years in Cincinnati, which included a Pro Bowl invitation in 2005. He went 12-for-12 for New England in 2010 after Stephen Gostowski went on injured reserve with a thigh injury, and kicked briefly for Miami and Baltimore last season.

He's made 214 of 249 field-goal tries in his career (86 percent), but he doesn't think his experience offers much of an advantage in the competition with Bullock.

"Nothing's ever a given, nothing is ever guaranteed," he said. "I still have to perform, it doesn't matter what I've done in my past. You still have to perform, you still have to treat every kick like it's a new kick. I've been to the Pro Bowl, he's been a Groza winner. We've both proved ourselves in the past, but that means nothing right now."

Kubiak had a tougher decision to make before the 2010 season, and opted to keep Rackers and cut Kris Brown, who was the last player from the Texans' inaugural 2002 season.

Kubiak called that a "tough, tough call," given Brown's close ties to the franchise history. There's no such dynamic here, although Bullock is a Houston native and starred at Kubiak's alma mater, Texas A&M. The Texans took the rare step of using a draft pick on kicker after Bullock "put on a show" during a pre-draft workout, according to Kubiak.

Bullock is under the impression that none of those connections count for anything.

"As far as I know, it's open," Bullock said. "It might help me a little bit, but at the same time, he (Graham) has done what he's done, he's got a long resume. It's a good opportunity for me, but at the same time, I've got to show up every day and be ready."

Graham, meanwhile, says he's had competition in training camp more often than he hasn't during his career, and he prefers it that way.

"It's a way to keep yourself sharp," he said. "A knife, if you just keep the knife out in the sun, it'll get dull. But if you put it against other metal, that sharpens it. Really, you do keep each other sharp, and that's good for both of us in the long run."

By all appearances, Bullock and Graham have been friendly from the start of camp, chatting as they wait their turns at practice and sharing information about their routines and preparation.

"We get along great," Graham said. "There are times when I give him advice on certain things, just warming up procedures, to day-to-day, keeping yourself ready. We don't give each other technical advice, because everybody is different.

"But he's a good guy and we get along great," Graham said. "We don't have any animosity toward each other. We know that our kicking is going to be our only competition, not what we say to each other."

Notes: LB Brian Cushing sat out Wednesday's practice with flu-like symptoms. ... WR Andre Johnson took about 20 repetitions Wednesday morning. Kubiak says he'll remain cautious with Johnson, who sustained a mild groin strain last week, and he'll decide Thursday whether he'll play at Carolina. ... CB Johnathan Joseph left practice early with a mild groin strain. Kubiak said the injury wasn't serious.

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HOUSTON (AP) — Trindon Holliday thought about trying out for the U.S. Olympic track team this summer. He quickly dismissed that notion because the London games overlapped with the start of Houston Texans training camp and Holliday would much rather make this team.

The former LSU track star ran back a kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown in the preseason opener against Carolina on Saturday, and he wants to be Houston's go-to guy on punt and kickoff returns. A sixth-round draft pick in 2010, Holliday sat out his first season with a left thumb injury, missed the entire 2011 preseason with a hamstring injury and spent most of the last regular season on the practice squad.

"My mental approach has always been to stay positive," Holliday said. "The first two years, I had injuries, but I can't help that. Injuries happen. I just told myself, 'Just stay positive, come out and work hard and things will work out for you.'"

The Texans (No. 6 in the AP Pro32) play San Francisco (No. 4) on Saturday night at Reliant Stadium.

Holliday wants to show coaches what he can do as a receiver, as well. He still hasn't played in a regular-season game.

Coach Gary Kubiak has other receivers to evaluate in the preseason and he wants Holliday to keep his focus on the kick returns. Special teams coach Joe Marciano says Holliday just needs to show he can be reliable.

"Up until this week, it almost seems like he misjudges or drops a punt a day," Marciano said. "He can hit home runs, but he's got to be able to catch the ball. He's got to make good decisions, and he's got to be a consistent decision-maker on punt returns."

Marciano said Holliday executed the long kickoff return against the Panthers with sheer speed, and was equally impressive when he broke tackles on a 36-yard kickoff return in the second quarter. Marciano said Holliday had room to run on a punt return in Carolina, but waved for a fair catch, a mistake Marciano said comes from his lack of playing time.

"He had one guy to beat," Marciano said. "He said, 'I saw that guy coming.' I said, 'Dude, he was 10 yards away, running full-speed. All you had to do was move.' That's the inexperience."

But overall, Holliday came out of the opener with renewed confidence, and he heard compliments from his teammates.

"Guys came up to me and told me that the one thing that our team was missing was special teams," he said, "and I just wanted to come out and show those guys that I can be counted on to make plays for this team."

All that's left now is winning over his coaches, who say they still have to see more from him this preseason.

"We've still got three games left," Marciano said. "Let's not anoint him yet. He's basically a rookie. The jury's still out."

At 5-foot-5, Holliday has been proving naysayers wrong since he began playing football in the seventh grade. His mother was afraid he would get hurt because he was so small, but Holliday raised his value by developing world-class speed.

When he first worked out for LSU coaches, they were amazed to the point of disbelief.

"I went out there to run the 40 for them in summer camp, and they didn't believe it," he said. "So they had me run it again."

At times, he thought track might be the career path to follow after college. In 2008, his junior year, he advanced to the semifinals of the U.S. Olympic trials for the 100-meter dash. He was the 2009 NCAA champion in the event, and earned the label as the fastest man in college football.

He finished his college career with 3,297 all-purpose yards, 10th in LSU history, and returned four kicks (two punts and two kickoffs) for touchdowns. He impressed scouts at the 2010 combine by running a 40-yard dash in 4.34 seconds.

The next step is showing he belongs in the NFL.

"I've heard all my life — that I've been too small to do this, too small to do that," he said. "I just take all that as motivation and show that I can do it. It's really nothing to overcome. If I stay positive about everything and be smart about my approach, everything will be all right."

Notes: LB Brian Cushing practiced on Tuesday after a bout with a virus last week. NT Shaun Cody watched from the sideline, with a portable device delivering electric stimulation to his injured back. Earl Mitchell will likely take Cody's reps in Saturday's game. Mitchell had 27 tackles, including a sack, for the Texans last season.

HOUSTON (AP) — A person with direct knowledge of the deal says the Houston Texans have agreed to a new contract with left tackle Duane Brown.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity Thursday because the deal had not been announced.

The 6-foot-4, 320-pound Brown has started all but four games since the Texans drafted him with the 26th overall pick in 2008. Brown earned Associated Press All-Pro second team honors in 2011 after helping the Texans set a franchise record for yards rushing (2,448).

The Houston Chronicle and KRIV-TV first reported Brown's deal. Brown's agent, Andy Ross, did not immediately return a phone message.

The Texans (No. 6 in the AP Pro32) play San Francisco (No. 4) in their second preseason game on Saturday at Reliant Stadium. Quarterback Matt Schaub and outside linebacker Connor Barwin also remain unsigned beyond this season.

Houston will break in new, full-time starters on the right side of the line, but Brown has proven to be a durable anchor on the left side, starting all 16 regular-season games in three of his first four seasons. Schaub called Brown the best left tackle in the league before training camp began.

Brown was suspended four games in 2010 for a positive test for a supplement on the league's list of banned substances. He acknowledged then that he made a "naive" mistake and was scared straight by "the longest four weeks of my life."

Offensive line coach John Benton says Brown has shown a new level of maturity and leadership since returning from the suspension.

Brown seems to have luck on his side, too, lately. Early in camp, Brown got tangled in a pile and came out limping. An MRI exam showed only a bone bruise in his lower left leg, and Brown was back at practice the following week.

Brown married radio host and MTV personality Devon "Devi Dev" Anjelica in Southern California in July and the two went on a weeklong honeymoon in Thailand. His wife acknowledged him on Twitter soon after news of his contract leaked out.

"Congrats to the man I love (at)DuaneBrown76 on a well deserved new contract," she wrote. "(asterisk)Houston Texas, home of the Texans.(asterisk)"

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HOUSTON (AP) — Houston Texans coach Gary Kubiak says rookie kicker Randy Bullock is out for the season after tearing a muscle near his groin.

Bullock, a fifth-round draft pick out of Texas A&M, was competing with veteran Shayne Graham. Bullock was 3 for 4 on field goals and Graham has gone 5 for 5 in the preseason.

Kubiak said Sunday that Bullock's groin "had been bothering him" in recent weeks and he had played through it. Bullock was "black and blue" and could barely lift his right leg, Kubiak said, when he came into Reliant Stadium for treatment following Saturday's 34-27 loss in New Orleans. He will go on injured reserve.

"A sad situation," Kubiak said. "He's going to kick in this league, he's going to kick a long time. Thankfully, we have Shayne, who's done a hell of a job, too."

Graham, 34, is entering his 12th season. He's bounced around the league as an injury replacement following seven years in Cincinnati, which included a Pro Bowl spot in 2005. He went 12 for 12 for New England in 2010 after Stephen Gostowski went on injured reserve with a thigh injury, and kicked briefly for Miami and Baltimore last season.

Graham is 145 for 157 on field-goal attempts inside 40 yards since 2001.

"I think we would've been proud with either one of them," Kubiak said. "I think this situation obviously calls for Shayne to move forward and be our guy. We expect him to do well."

The Texans (No. 6 in the AP Pro32) wrap up the preseason against Minnesota (No. 29) on Thursday night.

Kubiak said center Chris Myers and star receiver Andre Johnson were "both fine" after leaving the game early against the Saints. He said nose tackle Shaun Cody (back) and defensive end J.J. Watt (dislocated left elbow) will both practice this week, but won't play against the Vikings.

Kubiak says he'll decide later whether backup quarterback T.J. Yates will play on Thursday night. Yates, pressed into duty last season following injuries to Matt Schaub and Matt Leinart, is 19 for 32 in the preseason. Veteran John Beck and undrafted rookie Case Keenum are competing for the No. 3 spot on the depth chart at quarterback.

"I've got a decision to make there," Kubiak said.

Yates may get some playing time, because Kubiak wants to see improvement from the second-team offense. Yates went 6 for 11 for 72 yards and was sacked in New Orleans.

"The last two weeks, it's not been very good," Kubiak said. "We struggled up front with some issues, some protection schemes and stuff. In a lot of ways, T.J., he didn't play with the confidence that he normally plays with back there."

Kick returner Trindon Holliday and rookie receiver Keshawn Martin both fumbled twice in New Orleans. The 5-foot-5 Holliday shined in the first two preseason games, returning a kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown in the opener, then running back a punt 87 yards for another score in the second. He atoned for the miscues in New Orleans with a 62-yard kickoff return, but Kubiak says he's still hasn't decided whether to keep Holliday on the final roster just to return kicks.

"I've been very pleased with what Trindon has done, but he can't turn the ball over," Kubiak said. "The question is going to be, when we go and set this roster next week, we've got to look at the big picture. Is there a room for just a returner? That question is not going away."

Martin, a fourth-round draft pick, finished his college career at Michigan State ranked second in punt return yards (659) and eighth in kick return yards (1,100). Kubiak said Holliday will field all the kicks on Thursday night, but he's also confident that Martin and safeties Shiloh Keo and Danieal Manning could also handle kick-return duties.

Manning has averaged 27 yards per return in 114 attempts since 2006, the second-highest average since that year.

"Danieal Manning, to me, could be the best kick returner in football if we let him do it," Kubiak said.

Kubiak is also still keeping a close eye on the competition between offensive linemen Derek Newton and Rashad Butler. Newton started against the Saints.

"I think it's been a very good battle," Kubiak said. "I think I'll settle down on that, make a decision here in the next day or so before we get onto Thursday. They both continued to do good things, but nothing's perfect yet, obviously."

Kubiak also said Sunday that linebacker Darryl Sharpton will go on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list as he continues to nurse a quadriceps injury.

___

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DAVIE, Fla. (AP) — Miami Dolphins tackle Jake Long was limited in practice Wednesday because of a right knee injury he suffered last week.

Also limited were guard John Jerry (ankle) and linebackers Koa Misi (back) and Jason Trusnik (ankle). Receiver Brian Hartline, who missed the entire exhibition season with a left calf injury, participated fully in practice.

The Dolphins open the season Sunday at Houston.

HOUSTON (AP) — Andre Johnson is not a talker.

So when Houston's star receiver stood up and addressed his team on the importance of this season in their meeting Saturday night, the Texans took notice.

And on Sunday with Johnson's words fresh in their minds, Houston took advantage of four turnovers to get a 30-10 victory over the Miami Dolphins in rookie quarterback Ryan Tannehill's NFL debut.

Of course, Houston's most veteran player contributed more than just his motivational speech, finishing with 119 yards receiving and a touchdown for his 39th career 100-yard game.

Arian Foster added two scores to help the Texans get off to a solid start in a season they hope will end in the Super Bowl.

"(He) talked to his teammates about his career and what he wants to get out of his career and what this team means to him," coach Gary Kubiak said of Johnson's message. "I didn't have to say a darn thing after that."

The 31-year-old Johnson is the longest tenured player on the team and began his 10th season with Houston on Sunday. He's coming off an injury-plagued year during which he played a season-low seven games and finished with just 492 yards receiving — the fewest of his career.

"I just told the guys that you never know when it's going to be your last time when you're out on the field," Johnson said. "I told them that I don't know what's going to happen and I don't know how much longer I'll be able to play this game. I was just basically trying to tell them that we have a great opportunity and we have to take advantage of it."

Matt Schaub threw for 266 yards in his first action since fracturing his right foot in Week 10 last year, and announced after the game that he had signed a four-year contract extension that will keep him here through the 2016 season.

Tannehill, the eighth overall pick in this year's draft, threw three interceptions in less than six minutes in the second quarter and the Texans made him pay for each of them.

The Dolphins were up 3-0 before Tannehill's first miscue. Johnathan Joseph made a nifty, juggling interception and returned it 36 yards. An unnecessary roughness penalty on Mike Pouncey gave the ball to the Texans at the 7. But they couldn't get anything going on offense and lost 10 yards before tying it at 3 with a 35-yard field goal by Shayne Graham.

Then J.J. Watt got to work, proving that missing most of camp with a dislocated left elbow didn't slow him one bit. He deflected a pass that Brian Cushing grabbed for another interception on Miami's next drive.

"It's something we work on; we work on it every day in practice," Watt said of knocking down passes at the line. "We do that ball drill. It's something I've been working on since college. I know I have long arms, and you can't get a sack every play so you might as well try to knock the ball around."

Houston's offense finally got rolling after that and the Texans used a 24-yard reception by Johnson on third down to keep the drive going. Foster gave Houston a 10-3 lead on a 14-yard touchdown run.

Watt did it again on Miami's next series, batting another pass by Tannehill, and this one was intercepted by Kareem Jackson. Houston threw to Kevin Walter into the end zone on the next play and Richard Marshall was called for pass interference. That gave the Texans the ball at the 1 and Foster finished it off two plays later with his second score to push the lead to 17-3.

"Anytime you turn the ball over, you can't be happy with yourself, regardless of how they happened," Tannehill said. "It's not good. You can't turn the ball over. You put your defense in a bad situation and ultimately it led to a lot of points for them."

Miami's fourth straight turnover came on the first play of its next drive when Glover Quin forced a fumble by Daniel Thomas that Danieal Manning recovered. Schaub found Johnson in the corner of the end zone three plays later on a 14-yard touchdown pass to make it 24-3 just before halftime.

Reggie Bush had 69 yards rushing and caught six passes for 46 yards for Miami.

Tannehill finished 20 of 36 for 219 yards. He made his professional debut on the same field where he played his last college game, leading Texas A&M to a 33-22 win over Northwestern in the Meineke Car Care Bowl last December.

Marcus Thigpen returned a punt 72 yards for Miami's only touchdown. The Dolphins gained only 275 total yards.

The Dolphins took a 3-0 lead in the first quarter with a 39-yard field goal by Dan Carpenter.

Houston added two field goals in the second half to secure the win.

NOTES: Thomas left the game after his fumble. The team said he had a head injury and Miami coach Joe Philbin said after the game that he didn't have an update on his condition. ... Texans LB Tim Dobbins left with a neck injury. ... The announced attendance was 71,566, the second-largest crowd for a Texans home game. The record crowd is 71,585, set against Pittsburgh last Oct. 2.

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