HOUSTON (AP) -Dunta Robinson has made a memorable comeback to the Houston Texans.
The cornerback finished with nine tackles and his first interception since returning to the team in a 35-6 rout of the Cincinnati Bengals last Sunday. After missing almost a year with injuries, the interception gave him 12 for his career and set a Texans record.
It was a performance that solidified his status as a leader of a young defense and, while he mostly plays in the nickel package and hasn’t been on the field more than 39 snaps, coach Gary Kubiak believes Robinson has added confidence to his team.
“It’s a boost for mine and everybody’s, I can promise you that,” Kubiak said. “It’s great to have him out there. His teammates really respect him and he brings a lot to the table. He makes our team more physical just by the way he plays the game and the energy he brings.”
Robinson also knocked down two passes in Houston’s 35-6 win Sunday, including one he almost intercepted inside the 20 that forced the Bengals to settle for a field goal.
That was my golden opportunity,” he said. “So, after I didn’t get it and I got the one at the end, I was like, ‘Man, I’m supposed to have two.’ You get greedy after that. But I’m just happy I made it through that entire game.”
The Texans are slowly bringing Robinson back into the defense as he recovers from knee and hamstring injuries so severe he had to relearn how to walk. He was injured Nov. 4, 2007, and played for the first time since the injury last week.
Before the injury, the fifth-year player had started each game in his Texans career.
Kubiak said he doesn’t have a timetable on when Robinson could return to the starting lineup, but that he will likely see a few more plays this week.
“We’ll continue to do what’s best for him,” Kubiak said. “We won’t push him to the limit too quick. We’ll let him kind of dictate to us how he feels and where we go from here.”
Robinson was a bit sore after his first game, so they will see how he feels on Wednesday before deciding what his role will be this week. Kubiak said he never doubted Robinson would play again, but he is impressed with how well he’s done in such a short period without the benefit of training camp.
o. Just tackled well, gets a big interception so I think the progress that he’s making is very surprising.”
Robinson, who has been through four losing seasons with the Texans, was excited about Houston’s third straight win. But he wasn’t quite ready to think about the future and how much he’ll be able to contribute against Minnesota this week.
“Right now I’m just going to enjoy this win,” he said. “I’m not really thinking too much past it.”
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