HALL OF FAME

Andre Johnson breaks new ground for Houston Texans, symbolizes much more

Andre Johnson honored by the Texans
Andre Johnson is dedicating his Hall of Fame induction to Houston. Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images.

Andre Johnson knows his induction to the Pro Football Hall of Fame isn’t simply about him.

As the first Houston Texan to become a member of the esteemed group, the receiver is representing so much more.

“This was for the whole city of Houston. It’s for the whole organization,” Johnson said. “Just hearing … grown men telling me that they were crying. Having people tell you that God gave us a superhero here in Houston. Those are things that you don’t even realize how people look up to you or (how) you playing that game can affect a city.”

Johnson didn’t join the expansion team until its second year, when he was taken with the third overall pick in the 2003 draft. But he quickly became the star — and face of the fledging franchise.

“I can’t think of anyone more deserving to be the Texans’ first Hall of Fame inductee than Andre Johnson,” Texans owner Cal McNair said. “Every time he took the field, we knew he was bringing an incomparable passion and intensity that was a joy to watch. His impact across our community is immeasurable and we are thrilled he has secured his rightful place in NFL history forever.”

He spent 12 seasons in Houston, where he remains atop the team’s receiving records. He had 1,012 receptions for 13,597 yards and 64 touchdowns and notched 51 100-yard games while with the Texans.

Johnson finished his career with a season each in Indianapolis and Tennessee to reach 14,185 yards receiving, which is the 11th most yards receiving in NFL history.

He had seven 1,000-yard receiving seasons and surpassed 1,500 yards three times, including in 2012 when he piled up a career-high 1,598 yards.

Johnson spent his first three seasons playing for coach Dom Capers, but believes things started to change for him when Gary Kubiak took over in the 2006 season.

Kubiak, Johnson said, told him after his first season in Houston that things were going to be a bit different moving forward.

“He was like: ‘Hey, I’m going to have to move you around. You’re going to have to learn everything that goes on in the offense,’” Johnson said. “And I learned every position. If you look at some games, there was some games I even lined up at fullback and he would motion me out of the backfield.”

Johnson missed seven games with injuries in 2007 before posting some of his best seasons in the next two years. He led the NFL with 1,575 yards receiving in 2008 and topped the league again in 2009 with 1,569 yards.

“I give coach Kubiak a lot of credit because I guess there was just something that he saw in me as a player, and it helped elevate my game,” Johnson said. “It helped take my game to another level.”

For that, he selected Kubiak to present him at the ceremony Saturday.

Johnson led the Texans to their first winning record with his spectacular 2009 season and helped the team to its first playoff berth in 2011 followed by another playoff appearance in 2012.

In those playoff years, Johnson starred on offense and J.J. Watt became the team’s defensive star. The defensive end, who is almost sure to soon join Johnson in the Hall of Fame, beamed as he congratulated his former teammate on the honor in a video released by the Texans.

“Congratulations, you have earned it. You deserve it,” Watt said. “You have a gold jacket and you will now and forever be remembered as one of the greatest players to ever play this game and damn is that rightfully so.”

Johnson, who stills lives in Houston, has been bombarded by fans around town since he was elected to the Hall of Fame. The soft-spoken star normally shies away from attention but has embraced the hubbub during this special time.

And he expects the love that he’s gotten in Houston to continue during his trip to Ohio for the ceremony.

“I already told people in Canton that they better get ready, because Houston’s going to show up and show out,” Johnson said. “But just the love I’ve received from this city and the fans, it’s truly been great. It’s been a fun time.”

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The Astros can breathe a sigh of relief.Photo by Christopher Pasatieri/Getty Images.

Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez has a strained muscle at the top of his right hand, a diagnosis that instills optimism he won’t have a prolonged stay on the injured list.

The three-time All-Star went on the 10-day injured list Monday, retroactive to Saturday, and returned to Houston for an MRI that revealed the muscle strain.

“We look at it as good news,” Astros manager Joe Espada said before their Wednesday afternoon game with the Milwaukee Brewers.

Espada expressed hope that Alvarez wouldn’t have to stay on the injured list longer than the required 10 days. He also said the hand issue may have played a role in Alvarez’s slow start.

Alvarez, 27, is hitting .210 with a .306 on-base percentage, three homers and 18 RBIs in 29 games this season. He batted .308 with a .392 on-base percentage, 35 homers and 86 RBIs in 147 games last year while ranking ninth in the AL Most Valuable Player balloting.

He has posted an OPS of at least .959 and has finished 13th or higher in the MVP voting each of the last three seasons.

“Once he heals, once he gets back, I think we’ll see a more aggressive at bat and be not as cautious,” Espada said. “I think it had something to do with it, yes.”

His potential return could go a long way toward boosting an Astros lineup that hasn’t been as productive as usual this season. The Astros entered Wednesday’s action ranked 21st in the majors in runs (136) and 23rd in OPS (.676). Houston has ranked 11th or better in both those categories each of the last four seasons.

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