Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson has hired Kennard McGuire as his new agent. Johnson's uncle Andre Melton, who previously served as his agent, will remain a trusted adviser. He sat out the first three days of Houston's voluntary offseason practices because he wants a new contract, though he returned last week.

Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson, who is looking for a new contract, has hired a new agent. Johnson had been advised by his uncle, Andre Melton, but he appears to be showing the team that he means business by hiring the Houston-based agent. He missed the first three days of organized team activities before reporting Thursday.

Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson plans to rejoin the team after missing the first three voluntary practices because of a contract despite. Johnson's uncle and agent Andre Melton says he'll join the team at practice on Thursday after a meeting Wednesday with the team's front office that went "extremely well." "He's was like dying to get back," Melton said. Johnson has five years left on an eight-year contract worth $60 million that included $15 million in guarantees.

Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson has five years remaining on his contract, but he feels he's outplayed the deal. He was missing from the start of Houston's voluntary organized team activities on Monday. Johnson led the NFL in receiving yards last season and is scheduled to make $5.8 million this season.

Texans running back Steve Slaton currently weights 200 pounds, down from 215 last season, according to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle. Slaton played at 202 to 205 as a rookie. He rushed for 1,282 yards and nine touchdowns in his rookie season (2008). Last season, Slaton rushed for just 437 as he struggled with fumbles.

Texans head coach Gary Kubiak has spoken out about the significance of linebacker Brian Cushing's suspension. "It affects the football team a great deal," Kubiak said. "He's a huge piece of the puzzle. We're sitting here all offseason getting ready to go, and now we've got to do some adjusting. So I'm very disappointed ... but we've got to move forward, and we will." Cushing said Thursday that he tested positive for HCG, a fertility drug that is on the league's banned substance list.

Texans rookie wide receiver Trindon Holliday has become the fastest player to reach a contract among the draftees. A sixth-round pick, Holliday reached a four-year deal Friday that could be worth $2.713 million, according to a source.

Brian Cushing said Thursday that he neither injected nor ingested any banned substances, even though he tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug. Cushing was suspended for four games without pay last week for violating the NFL's drug policy. His appeal was denied. Cushing confirmed that he tested positive for HCG, a fertility drug that's on the league's banned substance list. "The question of how it got into my body is still unclear," he said. "It's something that I'm very personally concerned about, just the fact that how it's there and what's going to determine it from happening again, and that's something we're going to have to medically investigate." Cushing said that after failing the test, he was told HCG can get in your body from injecting it or because of tumors. He said this information led him to believe he had tumors, although he didn't say what kind. "I personally know I'm not injecting myself with anything," he said. "I played the whole season thinking this could not only be my last season, but my last year." Cushing added that he's concerned about his health and plans to undergo tests to see "how this got into my body" and to try to make sure it doesn't happen again.

Texans linebacker Brian Cushing could lose $950,000 in bonuses this season because of his suspension. He was suspended four games for using a banned substance. A majority of the incentives in his contract are still within reach, although it was originally believed that he could lose as much as $2.6 million.

Texans linebacker Brian Cushing is still The Associated Press NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. Five days after he was suspended without pay for four games for violating the league's anti-steroid policy, a nationwide panel of 50 sports writers and broadcasters who cover the NFL voted again to give Cushing the award. "I was just glad to hear the news, that people stuck by me. Very honored," Cushing said. "I'm very happy to have the award once again, and I'm just happy with how everything turned out."