Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson had his left knee scoped and cleaned up last Thursday, and the Texans say he should be back by the beginning of training camp. (great video above of AJ talking about his surgery and other topics, including coach Alex Gibbs). This news is a little unnerving to Texans fans (and should be something that fantasy players should watch) because:

1. When Andre Johnson was out last year, the offense still functioned, but not as efficiently, especially in the red zone.

2. The Texans have had a history of being overly optimistic in talking about players coming back from knee problems. Andre Johnson was initially described as week to week after suffering his knee injury in Week 2 last year, then it was said he would be out 3 to 5 weeks, and he didn't end up coming back until Week 11.

Running back Ahman Green was also described week to week with his knee bone bruise injury last year, until the Texans decided that he really needed to shut it down. In the 2006 training camp, Domanick Davis/Williams was described as the perfect zone blocking back until he ended up never playing a down that year and then later retiring due to a knee bone bruise.

Mike Florio at PFT.com fans the fire by saying, "Johnson is signed through 2014, and there has yet to be talk of the Texans giving up on him. But it's an issue that the team eventually will need to consider, if Johnson's knee doesn't get any better - or continues to deteroriate (sic)."

Well yeah, if any guy's knee isn't getting any better, of course you have to ask that question. However, even the speculation of giving up on Andre Johnson at this point in his career is silly talk given his production even after he was injured last season.

If you speak to anyone with the Texans, they will tell you that Andre Johnson is the best conditioned athlete on the team. He's played 3 entire 16 game seasons, and missed 3 games in 2005 and 7 games in 2007. The man made the Pro Bowl twice even with David Carr as his quarterback, so he has to be someone pretty special.

In 2005, he missed three games due to an unspecified pain, variously described at the time as pain in the back of his left knee or in his calf near the knee. In 2007, he missed 7 games for receiving what was eventually described as a sprain to his left PCL and MCL.

The type of injury he had usually responds to rehabilitation without surgery, but as I understand it, it is not unusual to have to clean up small particles of floating cartilage that may have broken off related to the 2007 injury. That by scoping the knee, you get the best chances of the player coming back to full speed.

Even so, after coming back in 2007, Andre Johnson had touchdowns 5 out of 7 weeks, including a 73 yard touchdown against the Saints his first week back. Why would any sane person think that the Texans should consider giving up on a player who has been so productive and loves playing in Houston?

He has had only one reported knee surgery/scope since being drafted--the scope that happened last Thursday. So, yeah, issues with Andre Johnson's left knee is a matter of concern to fans, but probably nothing to deserve the minor alarmist-mongering contained in the PFT report.

The only good news coming from this is that second year wide receiver Jacoby Jones will get more reps in Andre Johnson's offseason absence, and reports coming out of OTAs say he is looking good.

Check out this first day OTA report for more news, including discussions of Gary Kubiak being concerned with defensive tackle, Travis Johnson having "inflammation of the pelvic area." Apparently, it has been bothering him for months. I've never heard of a player being hindered with pelvis inflammation, but I got to tell you, I'm a little afraid to google that.