Houston’s Wilson sits out against Raiders, 2 other players also ill

Wilson, 2 other Texans ill

HOUSTON — Houston safety Eugene Wilson was inactive against the Oakland Raiders because of an illness, and two other Texans were available to play but were also ill on Sunday.

Houston had the NFL’s first confirmed case of swine flu earlier this week in tight end Anthony Hill. The other players got sick on Saturday night and Sunday morning, but the team did not confirm any other cases of swine flu.

Running back Chris Brown was available but not feeling well and didn’t play. Linebacker Xavier Adibi was also ill but played on special teams.

“Eugene got very sick last night, it continued through this morning, so there was no way he could play,” coach Gary Kubiak said. “We’re monitoring the situation. It’s something that’s hit us in the past four days and we just have to work through it.”

Offense lineman Eric Winston said Wilson was so sick that he “could barely walk.”

“Some guys can play through it,” Winston said. “It all depends on how it affects you. You are always concerned about some outbreak of the flu. If we get it, we get it. We just have to get over it.”

When asked if the illnesses were more cases of swine flu, Kubiak said: I don’t want to speculate on any of that … but it was kind of scary (Sunday) morning, to be honest with you.”