Texans CB Johnathan Joseph returned to practice in a limited capacity on Thursday and has a good shot of playing Monday night in New England after missing the last two games with a hamstring injury.

“He looked good,” Texans coach Gary Kubiak said. “He took a third to a half of the reps [Thursday] in practice and looked very explosive. We’ll be smart as we work through the week.”

The return of Joseph would be huge this week against QB Tom Brady and the Patriots offense, which leads the league in total offense at 426.2 yards per game. Joseph, the team’s best corner, has 41 tackles and two interceptions this season.

Joseph’s return also would boost a secondary that has been banged up in recent weeks. CB Brice McCain was placed on IR this week with a foot injury, and CB Alan Ball had to miss last week’s game at Tennessee with a foot injury.

Houston went out and signed CB Stanford Routt this week to fill McCain’s roster spot. Routt was a second-round pick in the 2005 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders out of the University of Houston. He spent the first part of this season with Chiefs before being released in November.

“He’s played a lot of football, covered a lot of good players in this league,” Kubiak said. “I guess the biggest thing I say is it’s a hell of an opportunity for him and his career. Went to school here, so want to see him make the most of this opportunity.”

Ball was one of two Texans who sat out practice Thursday. The other was LB Brooks Reed, who won’t play this week as he works his way back from a groin injury he suffered on Thanksgiving at Detroit.

LB Bradie James (hamstring), RT Derek Newton (knee) and RG Antoine Caldwell (hamstring) all were limited participants Thursday after missing the game with the Titans.

James said Thursday that there's nothing that can keep him from playing Monday night. Still, the Texans will see how their hobbled players respond to the work they put in on Thursday.

“I think that group of guys are all going to be game-time decisions,” Kubiak said. “How they come out of their practice reps here over the course of the next couple of days will probably have a lot to do with where we’re at. So, step in the right direction for all of those guys that went back to work [Thursday].”

Follow Texans blogger Sean Bielawski on Twitter, @CBSTexans.