Killings' progress came one day after he left the field on a stretcher after a headfirst collision with Indianapolis receiver Roy Hall.

Killings fractured his C-4 vertebra and was unable to move any of his limbs for a time on the field yesterday, said Dr. Rob Parrish, a neurosurgeon working with Killings. He has since gained movement in his arms and legs, though he's weak in both hands and his left arm.

"He stood for me this morning at the bed side," Parrish said. "So I think he'll walk out of the hospital. That's very good. We were all applauding."

Parrish said the biggest concern now is the weakness in Killings' left arm, but that it was too soon to tell if it would be permanent.

"That's his deficit right now," Parrish said. "It might all come back."

Parrish said the injury was similar to the one sustained by Buffalo tight end Kevin Everett in the Bills' season-opener. While Everett's spinal cord injury was considered life-threatening, he is making a strong recovery and doctors expect that he also will walk again.

After the hit, Killings lay motionless as trainers attended to him, and coaches and players watched while he was strapped to a stretcher.

Texans team physician Dr. Walter Lowe said it is too soon to know whether Killings will play football again.

"He's still in the process of recovering," Lowe said.

The 30-year-old Killings was cut by the Texans on Sept. 1, then re-signed two weeks later to add depth to the defensive line when Travis Johnson injured his ankle.

Also today, the Texans learned the extent of several other injuries sustained in their 30-24 loss to the Colts.

Center Steve McKinney will miss the rest of the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. He'll be replaced by veteran center Mike Flanagan, who started last season but lost his job to McKinney in training camp.

Jacoby Jones is expected to miss 2-3 weeks with a separated shoulder. The rookie receiver and punt returner got his first start yesterday in place of Andre Johnson, who is out with a knee sprain. Jones was injured when he was tackled after a 74-yard punt return.

Johnson isn't sure when he'll return, but didn't rule out playing against Atlanta on Sunday. The Pro Bowl selection revealed more about his injury on Monday, saying he sprained two ligaments in his knee. He bent it for the first time in a week on Sunday after it had been immobilized in a brace since the injury.

"I feel like every day I'm taking a step forward," Johnson said. "I'm just doing everything I can to get back on the field as soon as possible."

Coach Gary Kubiak said Ahman Green, who left Sunday's game early in the second quarter, had a bruised knee and an MRI exam revealed no damage. He will be listed as day-to-day this week.