SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 19: Louis Nix III #1 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates near the end of the game against the University of Southern California Trojans at Notre Dame Stadium on October 19, 2013 in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated USC 14-10. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Houston (CBS Houston)- Texans third round draft pick Louis Nix practiced for the first time this camp today. He had been on the active physically unable to perform list since the start of camp. He had pre-camp knee surgery which prevented him from being ready at the start of camp.

Head Coach Bill O’Brien said they wouldn’t put too much too soon on Nix.

“He’s been out for a while,” O’Brien said. “It’s a matter of getting him back in football shape, getting him some work in pads, and not throwing him, you know, throwing right back in there for 50 reps in a practice.”

Nix played three years at Notre Dame where he started almost 30 games over three seasons. His senior season was derailed due to knee surgery. He had been doing conditioning and testing the knee on a separate field in recent practices before his return today.

Nix was in uniform and stretched with the team but he didn’t see a whole lot of action in practice today. The team’s current nose tackles include Jerrell Powe, who played with the first team today, and Ricardo Mathews. David Hunter sees reps there too.

O’Brien seems to be taking a cautious approach with Nix, mentioning he would see how the rookie feels today after practice before determining his playing time, but it might not be long before Texans fans see Nix take the field in a game.

“I think that he”ll be able to do some things against Atlanta,” O’Brien said. The Texans welcome the Falcons to town tomorrow as they begin joint practices. The two teams will play their second preseason game on Saturday night.