Running back Arian Foster said in a recent interview with ESPN's Hannah Storm that he considered retiring after his injury-plagued 2013 season.

Foster missed the preseason because of injuries and was limited to eight regular-season games after undergoing back surgery.

"Any time an athlete goes through an injury like that - a back, a neck, even knees or hips; something that puts you out for the entire season - you kind of re-evaluate your life. You see what's really important," Foster said. "Is getting paralyzed more important than playing with your grandkids when you're 50, 60 years old? People die on the football field. This is a really brutal sport. Going through an injury like that, being 27 years old, I'm young, still I'm at the prime of my career. Is it worth it to try to come back?"

Foster referenced an encounter with Oilers great Earl Campbell, who entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1991 but was hobbled by injuries at the end of his career.

"I'm not sure if his injuries were football-related or not," Foster said. "But everybody knows how physically he played the position, and that's why we love him. I admired the way he played the game, and I'm very appreciative of how he played the game.

"Looking at him in a wheelchair and seeing how some of the effects from football are affecting him today, and you're just looking at what really matters here. I'm going to walk away when I want to. I'm going to be the best … I can be, and you're going to like what you see. That's the mindset I've taken, and that's the mindset I've carried this entire offseason."

Brooks' absence worrisome

Injuries at guard are cause for concern.

Brandon Brooks, who played well in his first season as a starter at right guard last year, has been on the active/non-football injury list since camp began.

Cody White was placed on injured reserve with a ruptured Achilles tendon. Right guard Alex Kupper was on the practice squad last season or inactive for games when he was placed on the regular roster.

Unless Brooks makes dramatic improvement from an undisclosed injury, rookie Xavier Su'a-Filo could start at left guard and veteran Ben Jones at right guard.

"He came back (from vacation), had an injury issue, (and) I'm just following the lead of our medical people," coach Bill O'Brien said. "(Head trainer) Geoff Kaplan says Brandon's improving.

"When Brandon's ready, he'll practice. The issue is that when you've missed all of that time, you're not in football shape. That's a concern. When he comes back, (we've got to) get him in shape and get him back in the competition, because at that position, it's a heck of a competition."

The Texans are fortunate Jones can play either guard position as well as center if something happened to Chris Myers, who hasn't missed a game in his first six seasons with the Texans.

"Ben's a tough guy, a great teammate, and he's been out here every day," O'Brien said. "His versatility has really helped us."

Playing time for QBs in flux

How much quarterbacks Ryan Fitzpatrick, Case Keenum and Tom Savage play Saturday against Arizona depends on what happens in the game.

Coach Bill O'Brien and quarterbacks coach George Godsey are going to meet Wednesday to look at the situation.

"We'll talk about how much each guy's going to play, how much each unit's going to play," O'Brien said. "Ryan will start. Depending on how the game's going, like if it's a game where there are some three-and-outs, I think how many plays he gets is more important."

Fans want to see what Savage, the fourth-round pick, does in his first appearance in the NFL.

"I expect him to go 29-for-30, throw for 500 yards (and) not make a mistake," O'Brien said. "I'm kidding.

"He's improved every day. It'll be a whirlwind when he gets out there. For all the rookies, it'll be a different game, a very fast game.

"Like other rookies, he'll be nervous. He's got to calm the butterflies and do what he's been taught to this point: Get us in the right play, make good decisions, throw the ball accurately, and get us in and out of the run scheme.

"If he does that, he'll come out feeling pretty good."

Brian T. Smith and John McClain