ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) -Texans tight end Owen Daniels was ruled out after spraining his right knee in the first quarter of Houston's game at the Buffalo Bills.
Daniels was hurt during Houston's second possession Sunday. It's unclear how he was hurt, the player going down near the line of scrimmage before Matt Schaub underthrew a pass intended for Kevin Walter.
Daniels lay on the field for several minutes before being helped up by trainers. He was unable to put much weight on his right leg as he was escorted to the sideline, where he had a bag of ice wrapped around his knee. He entered the game leading NFL tight ends with 497 yards receiving and ranked second with five touchdowns.
The Texans ruled Daniels as out at halftime.
Houston running back Steve Slaton also was benched after fumbling for the seventh time this season.
On the Texans' third possession, Slaton caught a short pass over the middle and gained 7 yards before having the ball popped out of his hand by Paul Posluszny and recovered by Marcus Stroud at the Bills 42. Slaton, who has lost five fumbles this season, did not return for the rest of the first half and the start of the second, replaced by backups Ryan Moats and Chris Brown.
The Bills lost two starters, including right tackle Jamon Meredith, who was carted off after hurting his right leg in the first quarter. Defensive end Aaron Schobel, who got his 73rd career sack, was sidelined by a groin injury late in the second quarter.
The Bills announced the chance of both players returning was questionable.
