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Texans coach Gary Kubiak, on the possibility of shutting down Mario Williams for the remainder of the season: “If Mario can help us win, (if) he can play 25-30 plays which he played last night, then we want him to play and we’ll do everything we can to get him to gameday. If our doctors think that it’s not possible and we would hurt Mario in the long haul, then we will do what’s right by Mario. So that continues to be evaluated.” Williams has yet to miss a game in his five-year career. — HoustonTexans.com

DE Jarvis Green who won two Super Bowls playing with the New England Patriots for seven seasons, is expected to sign with the Houston Texans today, according to Fox Sports Radio’s Mike Dunsmore. Green signed a big free agent contract with the Broncos before this season, but was released on September 4. — Fox Sports Radio

Owner Bob McNair made it clear Wednesday that he’s not happy with the Texans’ 4-6 record but that he has faith in his players and believes they will end their four-game losing streak Sunday against Tennessee. “None of us are happy with the performance of our team,” McNair said after practice. “We are underperforming. Our coaches know that and say that. The players know that and say that. We’ve got to turn this thing around, and the way we’ll do it is by playing 60 minutes.” McNair also wanted to clarify something he said after Sunday’s 30-27 loss to the New York Jets. McNair said when he made his comment about the coaches and players doing a “great job,” he was talking about the fourth-quarter rally against the Jets and not the season. “I was speaking about the game. I was very proud of that comeback,” McNair said. “I was not making any reference to a critique of the coaches or players by saying they were great. “We let that one slip away. You can’t win games playing 59 minutes, and that was the big disappointment. We have to learn to play 60 minutes and get these things closed out.” — Houston Chronicle

For those Texans fans angry at the team’s 4-4 record and demanding that coach Gary Kubiak be fired at the midway part of the season, it isn’t going to happen. “That’s not how we run this ship,” owner Bob McNair said Monday night. “Gary’s doing a good job. Replacing him doesn’t help you catch more balls.” After starting 2-0, including the season-opening victory over Indianapolis, the Texans have gone 2-4. They are 2-3 at Reliant Stadium. A lot of fans blame Kubiak and want him fired even though he signed an extension through the 2012 season. “You’re always going to be criticized if you don’t win every game,” McNair said. “That’s just part of it. If you win, the criticism goes away. “I think he’s doing fine. He’s not out there making the blocks and catching the ball, and that’s what hurt us. If you replace the coach, will it be easier for the guy who missed the block to make it? I don’t think so. “If he was making bad decisions, if he wasn’t managing the team and if the players weren’t playing hard, that would be cause for concern. But our players are playing hard.” — Houston Chronicle

Several Texans defensive players spoke Thursday about a call-to-arms players-only meeting end Antonio Smith was behind a couple of days ago.  Although none gave specifics of what was said, all agreed it was productive and tackle Shaun Cody said, “overdue, I think.” Last in the NFL in yards allowed and having to go forward without their middle linebacker and captain, DeMeco Ryans, the Texans would seem in dire straits heading to Indianapolis for a Monday night game. Smith apparently made a plea to his teammates that they all pick up the pace while admitting he wasn’t playing well enough, either. “Antonio is a leader on our defense and he had some good things for us to hear,” Cody said. “But it’s got to be more than about words. We’ve got to go out there (on the field) and do it. We’ve got some things to figure out on defense.” — Houston Chronicle

When the Texans returned to practice Monday to begin preparation for next Monday night’s game at Indianapolis, Brian Cushing was playing middle linebacker. Before they broke for their five-day vacation last week, the coaches talked about Kevin Bentley and Zac Diles as possible replacements for DeMeco Ryans, who underwent surgery on Friday to repair a ruptured Achilles’ tendon. Cushing will start in the middle against the Colts. Bentley, who backed up Ryans, will replace Cushing on the strong side. Diles, who replaced Ryans in the 35-31 victory over Kansas City, will remain on the weak side. “We thought that was the best thing for our team,” coach Gary Kubiak said about Cushing’s move. “We want him to take over our defense. “I think it’s about leadership right now with our defense and getting better as a group and somebody taking the group over. We took all that into account, and No. 56 was the best guy to step in and lead our defense.” — Houston Chronicle

The Texans’ flirtation with defensive end Aaron Schobel is over. After weeks of speculation that he would come out of retirement, play for the Texans and be reunited with assistant head coach defensive line Bill Kollar, Schobel worked out for the team Monday but elected to stay retired on Tuesday. “It’s late (in the signing process), and I’m not in the best of shape. (But) the bottom line is that we couldn’t come to an agreement,” Schobel said Tuesday from his home in Columbus. “I think they saw me for what I am and not for what I can be. “I’d gotten heavy, but I’ve lost weight. I’m still probably 10 pounds away from being at my best. It would have taken me another week or two to get into (playing) shape.” The Texans were interested in Schobel to bolster their pass rush. They have five sacks in three games, four by Mario Williams. – Houston Chronicle