AP

Texans linebacker Brian Cushing is out of the hospital.

Cushing checked in on Tuesday night with an illness that coach Gary Kubiak described as flu-like symptoms. Cushing has recovered enough to get back on his feet and Kubiak is hopeful that he’ll be back with the team on Thursday afternoon.

Kubiak isn’t ruling Cushing out of Saturday’s preseason opener against the Panthers. If Cushing continues to feel well, it sounds like he’s going to play.

“I’m hoping he’s over here this afternoon,” Gary Kubiak said on Thursday morning. “He’s feeling much better. As long as he’s feeling well, he’ll go through our jog-through in the morning and he’ll get his repetitions on Saturday, so we’ll see. But he’s doing better.”

Despite Kubiak’s encouraging words, John McClain of the Houston Chronicle writes that you shouldn’t expect Cushing to play on Saturday. Since Cushing only figures to play a handful of plays anyway, the safe approach does sound like a wise one for the Texans. After all, it’s not like they need to know what last year’s team MVP can do on the football field.

Mister Alexander would start in Cushing’s place if he isn’t able to answer the bell on Saturday.