HOUSTON -- Texans Pro Bowl linebacker Brian Cushing is out for the season with a left knee injury that will require surgery. David Dahl Jersey . Cushing was injured in the third quarter of Sundays loss at Kansas City during a low block by running back Jamaal Charles. Its the second straight year Cushing has been lost for the season with a left knee injury. He tore the anterior cruciate ligament in the same knee in Week 5 last season. Its a devastating blow for a team that has lost five games in a row heading into its bye on Sunday. "I think he was playing at a defensive player of the year-type of level," coach Gary Kubiak said. "Then here he goes again, hes got to go through this. So I know its very difficult for him ... (and) I know Cush will do everything he can to get back. But you hate to see anybody go through that especially twice now." The Texans signed Cushing to a six-year contract worth $55.6 million before this season. Kubiak said injuries to left tackle Duane Brown (ankle), running back Arian Foster (hamstring) and Ben Tate (ribs) arent serious. Tate was injured in the third quarter on Sunday but returned and finished the game. He told The Associated Press on Monday that he has four broken ribs. He was in a lot of pain, even wincing when he took off his sweatshirt, but said that he expects to be ready to play when Houston hosts Indianapolis on Nov. 3. "Ill be OK," he said. Kubiak also said rookies Cierre Wood, Sam Montgomery and Willie Jefferson were released for violating team rules. He wouldnt specify what the players did, but did say it wasnt just one thing. "I make decisions based on a body of work in everything I do," he said. "Ive got five months of work invested with those three young men and I made a decision today to move forward. Weve got some things we need to address as a football team." Wood is a running back who was third on the depth chart after making the team as an undrafted free agent. With Foster and Tate both banged up, the Texans will need to add depth at that position with one of the open roster spots. Montgomery, a third-round pick, and Jefferson, who was undrafted, are both linebackers. "Weve got some rebuilding to do inside with some issues and weve got some special teams issues," Kubiak said. "So the moves that we make have got to be special teams-oriented to help (special teams coach) Joe (Marciano)." Players wouldnt discuss why the three were dismissed from the team, but said they agreed with Kubiaks decision. "Its a shame," linebacker Brooks Reed said. "But its for the betterment of the team." Another issue for the Texans is the health of quarterback Matt Schaub. Schaub struggled this season before missing last weeks game with ankle and foot injuries. Former third-stringer Case Keenum got the start on Sunday in his first NFL game. He performed well for most of the game before a fumble late in the fourth quarter sealed Houstons loss. Kubiak was cagey when asked if Schaub would start after the bye if hes healthy. "Ive got to sit down and look at our situation and whats going on right now," he said. "Obviously Matts our starting quarterback, Case played this week because Matt wasnt healthy. Case went in and played extremely well. Im going to sit down on our bye week and evaluate where were at as a team and move forward from there." But he did rave about Keenums performance against the undefeated Chiefs. "To go in Kansas City in that environment and that noise and handle the football team the way he handled it I thought was impressive," Kubiak said. Cheap Rockies Jerseys . The All-Pro left tackle agreed to a five-year contract with the Eagles on Wednesday. Peters was signed for 2014, and his new deal adds four years through 2018. Jon Gray Jersey . -- Get a flow chart ready to follow the Packers quarterback situation. http://www.cheaprockiesjerseys.com/?tag=cheap-daniel-castro-jersey .Y. - Lou Williams scored 21 points and the Toronto Raptors beat New York 81-76 on Monday night in the Knicks preseason home opener.KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Chiefs linebacker Tamba Hali remains out of practice with swelling in his left knee, leaving his status for this weekends playoff game in Indianapolis in question. Right tackle Eric Fisher also missed the final workout at the Chiefs practice facility Thursday before the team departs for Saturdays game. He strained his groin earlier in the week. Chiefs coach Andy Reid wwont rule Hali out of the game and says its "just a matter of the swelling coming down. Gerardo Parra Jersey. " He adds: "Its been up; its been down. We want to make sure we get it out of there." Hali is tied with Justin Houston for the team lead with 11 sacks. Houston will be returning to the lineup Saturday after missing six games with a dislocated right elbow. ' ' '