OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — NFL leading rusher Arian Foster did not start for the Houston Texans against the Oakland Raiders.
The team said Foster’s absence was a “coach’s decision.” Foster did not play the first quarter and was on the bench for the first drive of the second quarter. It is not immediately clear if he will play later in the game.
Backups Steve Slaton and Derrick Ward got off to a good start. Ward scored on a 33-yard touchdown run on Houston’s opening drive and Slaton had 47 yards from scrimmage in the first quarter.
Foster leads the NFL with 406 yards rushing through four games.
Houston is also without leading receiver Andre Johnson, who is inactive with a sprained right ankle.
