The Facts: The Pro Bowl return man missed the first 11 games recovering from a fractured foot. The team had to decide by Tuesday whether to activate him or place him on injured reserve, which would have ended his season.
Diehards Line:As a rookie in 2005, Mathis returned 54 kickoffs for 1,542 yards and two touchdowns in 12 games. He averaged an NFL-best 28.6 yards a return and was the first player in franchise history to return a kickoff for a touchdown. In his absence, the Texans have used 10 players to return kicks. ... Gary Kubiak said Monday that Mathis, who is also a receiver, would have to play offense in addition to special teams if he's active Sunday.