If all goes according to plan, receiver Andre Johnson will return to the starting lineup no later than the Texans' Oct. 30 game against Jacksonville at Reliant Stadium.

That means he would miss games against Oakland, Baltimore and Tennessee.

Depending on how fast he recovers after undergoing a surgical procedure to prevent scar tissue from forming around a slight tear in his right hamstring, there's an outside chance Johnson might be ready for the Oct. 23 game against the Titans.

More than likely, though, Johnson will miss three games because the Texans have taken extra precautions with players suffering from hamstring and groin injuries since training camp began.

After Johnson underwent multiple MRIs and got a second opinion, doctors decided the best course of action would be to perform the procedure that's designed to speed up the recovery process.

"Andre's fine," agent Kennard McGuire said Tuesday. "He's looking forward to being back with his teammates."

McGuire declined to comment on the procedure but added, "I guess in this environment, HIPAA doesn't apply."

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 protects the privacy of individuals' health information.

The Texans, who are 3-1 and tied with Tennessee for first place in the AFC South, declined to comment on Johnson on Tuesday.

This is the second time in two seasons Johnson has been injured. He missed three games last season because of a high ankle sprain suffered in the second game of the season. The Texans finished 2-1 without Johnson, including a victory over Oakland.

Johnson was injured in Sunday's 17-10 victory over Pittsburgh. On a 10-yard catch, he made a cut and went down without being touched. His teammate said later they thought he had suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon or a torn knee ligament.

Johnson has a team-high 25 catches for 352 yards and two touchdowns. Jacoby Jones will start in Johnson's place opposite Kevin Walter.

john.mcclain@chron.com