Photo: Brett Coomer/Staff Photographer Photo: Karen Warren/Staff Photographer Photo: Brett Coomer/Staff Photographer Photo: Brett Coomer/Staff Photographer Photo: Brett Coomer/Staff Photographer Photo: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle / Staff Photographer Photo: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle / Staff Photographer

When hard-hitting Texans veteran cornerback Kareem Jackson injured his knee Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles, he kept lobbying coaches and trainers to let him go back into the game.

Jackson was ultimately ruled out, but the Texans like his chances of playing Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Texans coach Bill O'Brien was optimistic that Jackson, a Pro Bowl alternate, will be able to return.

"I think so," he said. "Kareem's a tough guy. We've been around each other a long time. Kareem's a guy that he'll do whatever he can to help our team and to be ready to play.

"We have a lot of guys like that that really want to be in there making plays and try to help the team. He's definitely one of those guys."