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HOUSTON -- Houstons pass defense has been a strength of the team all season and has been even more important in the wake of J.J. Watts season-ending back injury.The Texans rank second in the NFL by allowing just 189.3 yards passing a game and have remained solid in that area despite an onslaught of recent injuries.The veteran of the group, cornerback Johnathan Joseph, has been battling injuries for the past two weeks. He left early in the loss to Minnesota two weeks ago with a concussion and returned last week only to leave in the first quarter with a forearm injury.But hes far from the only member of the secondary struggling to stay on the field. Houston has been without its other starting cornerback, Kareem Jackson, for the last two weeks because of a hamstring injury.Joseph and Jackson returned to practice on Wednesday, but the Texans still have several other players, including starting strong safety Quintin Demps and backup cornerback Kevin Johnson, who remain out. Demps missed the last game with a leg injury and his status is uncertain for Mondays game at Denver and Johnson, a first-round draft pick in 2015, is out indefinitely with a broken foot. They placed backup safety K.J. Dillon on the injured reserve on Wednesday with a knee injury.Joseph, who is in his 11th NFL season, has tried to help steady the group throughout all the changes.Just talk to guys constantly about whatever role they are going to be playing or just try to help them out, get them up to speed with the playbook or just a game plan, he said.Though Johnson wasnt starting, he was getting a lot of playing time and had started to be a key member of the secondary in his second season with 25 tackles.I thought hed played real well, coach Bill OBrien said. He tackled well. He covered well. Like I always say, injuries happen. Its unfortunate when they happen to your best players, but they do and the next guys have to step up. Weve done that in many regards.Thats something the Texans have done all season, especially this defense in moving on without Watt, last years NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Houston has won two of three games since the defensive end was placed on the injured reserve with a back injury.I think we have responded well, Joseph said. Obviously, losing a guy like him is a big blow. I think guys have done a great job of stepping up in other areas and helping out. Its going to be all hands on deck type of mentality.On Monday they will face a Denver team that has struggled in the passing game and ranks 27th in the league by averaging just 224.8 yards. Despite those numbers, the Texans know they will have to play well to contain quarterback Trevor Siemian.Hes a good quarterback, safety A.J. Bouye said. We look at who he targets the most. Everybody in the NFL, if youre a quarterback and youre starting, you know that youre a good quarterback.Hes got two good targets in Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders, who have combined for 67 receptions for 829 yards and six touchdowns this season.They got weapons on the outside, at the tight end position, obviously, a well-coached team, Joseph said. They have a great running game, also. I think its going to keep us honest in all areas.---Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Mike Person Jersey . The Olympic champion curler and TSN curling analyst immediately went online to look at the Halls long list of honoured members. Thats when the enormity of the honour sunk in. Jeff Wilson Jersey . The Hall of Fame defenceman told Landsberg that he believes fighting still has a place in todays game, but thinks staged fighting needs be outlawed. http://www.custom49ersjersey.com/custom-troy-smith-jersey-large-1968d.html . Duchene scored two goals and had an assist, helping the Colorado Avalanche beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-2 on Friday night to match the best 10-game start in team history. Jaquiski Tartt Jersey .com) - Christian Ponder will get another chance to prove himself for the Minnesota Vikings, with head coach Leslie Frazier announcing Wednesday that the struggling quarterback will start this weekends game against the Green Bay Packers. Emmanuel Sanders Jersey . Murray beat Sam Querrey 7-6 (5), 6-7 (3), 6-1, 6-3 to clinch Britains opening-round victory against the United States on Sunday at Petco Park. "Im proud of the way Im playing just now, because I had to do a lot of work to get back to where I want to be," Murray said after celebrating with his teammates on the red clay court in a temporary stadium in left field of the downtown home of baseballs San Diego Padres. PARIS -- The Wales squad playing with their children on pitches across France has provided some of the most heartwarming images of the European Championship.Tournament organizers dont find the scenes quite so endearing.UEFA are frowning on it unfortunately because its encroachment on the pitch, Football Association of Wales President David Griffiths told The Associated Press on Monday. But the team is run like a family and the boys have been together for so long.And the players are still likely to be dancing and kicking the ball around with their kids after Wednesdays semifinal against Portugal in Lyon. Win or lose.Already history-makers in their rugby-obsessed homeland, the Welsh are one game away from a final against Germany or host France.The unexpected progress is even jeopardizing midfielder Joe Ledleys wedding, which was scheduled for this weekend.Hes obviously booked it a long time ago, before qualifying, teammate Gareth Bale said. These things happen.Just not usually to Welsh footballers. Not when your nation hadnt previously made it to a major tournament since the 1958 World Cup.Even after qualifying for Euro 2016, few would have expected Wales to be the British team in the final four. England beat Wales in the group stage but was embarrassed in the round of 16 by Iceland.Griffiths has received messages of congratulations from Northern Ireland, which Wales beat to reach the quarterfinals, and Scotland, which failed to qualify for Euro 2016 but whose federation president has been invited by the FAW to the semifinal.Ive heard nothing from Greg Dyke, Griffiths said of the English Football Association chairman.While the England players are already on holiday, their Welsh counterparts are savoring every moment of an astonishing run that is continuing thanks to a 3-1 victory over Belgium, the worlds second-ranked team.Together stronger is the emblazed on walls across the Welsh tournament base in the northwest seaside resort of Dinard. It seems to be a motto grounded in reality, rather than just the marketing minds back in Cardiff.The players readily mingle with the public at their Britttany base between games, lacking the aloofness of their neighbors from England, which was embarrassed by Iceland in the round of 16.dddddddddddd.England didnt want anyone filming, Griffiths said. Our lads have been going to get a coffee and milkshakes, being photographed and signing autographs. Its like a family.Of which Bale is its most important member.The worlds most expensive player will never say that himself, of course.The team is the star, is long-standing mantra from Bale that was repeated Monday to deflect questions about his importance to Wales. There are no stars in the team.And yet the inevitable dependence on the 100 million-euro Real Madrid forward will be sharpened by Wales being shorn of the creative outlet provided by the suspended Aaron Ramsey. Defender Ben Davies also picked up a second tournament yellow card against Belgium that ruled him out of the semifinals.Its horrible for them, Bale said. Its given us even more motivation for us to win the semifinal and so they can play again. We are not doing it just for the nation and the badge now; we are doing it for them as well.There was further anxiety for Wales fans when Bale trained away from the rest of the squad on Monday morning.I just needed an extra day recovery, the 26-year-old Bale said in a reassuring medical bulletin later. I felt a little bit stiff.If the Welsh journey is to continue to the Stade de France for Sundays final, Wales will have to stifle Bales Madrid teammate Cristiano Ronaldo.Its been a tournament of contrasts for the duo.Bales easy-going demeanor has contrasted with the tetchiness of a tense Ronaldo..Bale has been cautious to avoid stoking a rivalry with Ronaldo before their semifinal. Whats clear is they are more teammates than mates in the Spanish capital.Of course we get on very well at Real Madrid, Bale said. Im not sure what he does off the pitch, thats his private life.---Rob Harris can be followed at www.twitter.com/RobHarris and www.twitter.com/RobHarrisReports ' ' '