Our Stephania Bell has a fascinating piece about a new type of training the Texans are using on their athletes recovering from injuries. Blood flow restriction (BFR) training is a technique borrowed from researchers at Brooke Army Medical Center. According to Bell, the Texans are the first NFL team to use this type of therapy. From her story:

The scientific basis for the physiologic response to BFR training and its success within the military population gave (Texans doctor Walt) Lowe and (head trainer Geoff) Kaplan the confidence to move forward.

Several Texans players are currently undergoing BFR training as a component of their rehabilitation, including Jadeveon Clowney, who is recovering from microfracture surgery on his right knee. (After initially undergoing surgery to address a lateral meniscus tear in September, persistent pain associated with an accompanying cartilage injury led to the second surgery in December.)

Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, recovering from surgery in December to repair a tibia fracture, and linebacker Brian Cushing, who has undergone several surgeries on his left knee, are also among those performing BFR training.

While it's too early in the recovery process to draw any overall conclusions, the Texans' medical staff is encouraged by what they're seeing so far.

"Players are saying they feel better and their legs are getting stronger," Kaplan said, noting that based on his own observations, the small group of players undergoing BFR training seem to be progressing more quickly than others in the past recovering from similar procedures.

For instance, one player recently shed his crutches, immediately walking with no apprehension or limp. While there are still many steps before returning to the football field, the transition to regular walking off extended use of crutches is often difficult.

"The athletes [undergoing BFR training] are exhibiting better muscle control and making progressions -- like moving from double-leg activities to single-leg -- faster than what we typically see."