Houston Texans running back Arian Foster has been declared inactive for Sunday's game against the Cleveland Browns, per Drew Dougherty of the team website. Foster injured his groin in Week 9 against the Philadelphia Eagles in a defeat. Foster has been injury-plagued over the past few seasons, suffering a variety of ailments which have limited him to eight games this season and eight throughout all of 2013.

Foster was originally listed as questionable for the game, before the team downgraded him Saturday.

With Foster out the game, the Texans will be forced to put more emphasis on quarterback Ryan Mallett. Mallett is making his first-career start after backing up Tom Brady for three seasons with the New England Patriots before being traded to Houston this offseason. Without Foster, Houston will rely on rookie back Alfred Blue to shoulder the load.

Blue has rushed for 234 yards on 3.4 yards per carry, not exactly providing the punch Foster brings. Foster is second in the league with 822 rushing yards, trailing only DeMarco Murray of the Dallas Cowboys (1,233 yards).

At 4-5, the Texans need to string together wins if they want any shot of making the playoffs for the first time since 2012. After visiting the Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium, Houston hosts the Bengals and Titans before traveling to take on the Jaguars.

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