• Photos from practice

After participating in his first practice since his four-game suspension ended, outside linebacker Brian Cushing had a message for Texans fans.

“I’m back; I’m playing football, and it’s going to be the same old 56 running around,” he said Wednesday. “I take a lot of pride in playing, and I want to be the best at it. Hopefully, I won’t skip a beat.

“I’m putting the helmet and shoulder pads on, and, come Sunday, I’m going to be me.”

Banished from Reliant Stadium and Methodist Training Center for testing positive for hCG — banned by the NFL because it can be a masking agent for steroids — Cushing will start Sunday against the New York Giants.

“It’s in the past now,” Cushing said about his ordeal of testing positive, appealing to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and losing his appeal. “I did my time, did the four weeks.

“I feel I have something to prove every time I step on the field. That’s the way I play the game. Nothing’s going to change. I’m sure some people are going to be looking for drop-offs, but nothing like that’s going to happen.”

Until Monday, the Texans hadn’t seen Cushing since the last preseason game against Tampa Bay. He spent most of his suspension at home in New Jersey working out at a gym and his high school.

Billy Smith II/Chronicle

The Texans finished 3-1 without Cushing, who watched the opening win over Indianapolis but played golf during the next three games. He watched them on tape.

“I really didn’t think it would be that tough, and six out of seven days a week weren’t, but every Sunday you see some football being played, and it was pretty tough,” he said. “After that (Colts game), I realized I couldn’t watch the games anymore. Not being on the field and helping my team was a helpless feeling, and I just really couldn’t watch.

“I played golf and tried to get my mind off it, but I was on my cell phone every second checking the score updates.”

‘Football is his life’

Coach Gary Kubiak worries about Cushing being rusty from not playing since the last preseason game.

“Obviously, we’ve missed him on defense,” Kubiak said. “We’ll put him right to work because he’s so valuable to this team. I’m not worried about Brian from a work standpoint. He works harder than anybody we have. It’s the snaps you can’t make up for that everyone else has played.

“Football is his life. There’s a lot of guys counting on him. His teammates told him they’d have him in good shape when he came back, and they’ve done their part. Now he’s got to step up and do his.”

Cushing’s teammates welcomed him back with open arms.

“Better than I could have imagined,” he said. “They were happy, and I think after the last (Oakland) game, all of them texted me saying, ‘You’re back.’ It’s just a great, welcoming feeling.

“This is peace of mind. For the last two weeks, it was getting to me a little bit. My mom and my dad could tell I was a little on edge. Now I’m back to doing what I do, and it’s a really mind-clearing kind of feeling. I’m home.”

Taking care of business

While he was gone, Cushing’s teammates took care of business by winning three games. Now he’s got to help improve a defense that allows 408 yards a game.

“I’ve been proud of the way they’ve played and the effort they’ve played with,” he said. “There’s going to be a lot of emotion going into my hits. Any time off and you get a chance to get back on the field, it’s a sense of realizing that you’re blessed to have this job. It’s an unbelievable opportunity, and when something you love is taken away from you, you never want to take it for granted again.

“I’ve got to settle down. I know I’m going to be a little fired up, and I’m going to be very excited to play the game, but I’ve got to be smart. I don’t look at myself as a savior or anything, but I definitely think I can help the defense a lot.”

john.mcclain@chron.com

With or without him

Texans’ outcomes in last four games of 2009, with Brian Cushing

vs. Seahawks

Dec. 13, 2009, W 34-7

Cushing’s line: 10 tackles and a sack.

at Rams

Dec. 20, 2009, W 16-13

Seven tackles, half sack.

at Dolphins

Dec. 27, 2009, W 27-20

Nine tackles, sack, int.

vs. Patriots

Jan. 3, 2010, W 34-27

Five tackles give Cushing 134 for season.

and first four of 2010, without him:

vs. Colts

Sept. 12, W 34-24

Manning 40-of-57 for 433 yards, 3 TDs.

at Redskins

Sept. 19, W 27-24 OT

McNabb throws for 426.

vs. Cowboys

Sept. 26, L 27-13

Where’s the pass rush?

at Raiders

Oct. 3, W 31-24

Texans register first interceptions of 2010.