On HoustonTexans.com, there’s a Thursday OTA recap video where Gary Kubiak once again discusses Charles Spencer. They cut in some video of Spencer actually practicing with the team – not just running on the sideline on his own. There’s a shot of him firing off the line, playing right guard in between Greg Eslinger at center, and Rashad Butler at right tackle. He gets off the line a little slow, and he still has that noticeable limp – but we’ve been told that he’ll likely have that for the rest of his playing career. He also still looks too big, but that will take care of itself as his leg continues to heal. You can’t expect a guy with one bad wheel to be in great shape.

Kubiak says that the team is presently trying to figure out “the day” when they will finally push Charles hard, and see how his leg responds. He said it could be today, monday, or next week – but he made it pretty clear that if the team doctors/trainers are okay with them giving him a true test – that he definitely wants to do it BEFORE the end of OTAs, and not have to wait until training camps starts.

The coach also had this to say, which seems to suggest that the Texans won’t be against hanging on to Spencer even if he’s not ready to go anytime soon:

“…it’s been a long long haul, you’re talking about a year and a half of trying to get a player back on the football field and in all honesty, we may be looking at some more time if he’s gonna make it back. We have to evaluate that as an organization…”

I’ve said a couple of times that Kubiak probably won’t have much patience anymore when it comes to Spencer getting back on the field. Now that we’re getting closer to training camp, I’ve totally changed my tune. It’s been almost two years – why not wait longer? It would seem to be a waste of all the hard work the coaches and Spencer himself has put into things for them to give up on it now.

Right now, he’s clearly still not ready – as Kubiak said in the above referenced clip, the situation with Spencer is still a delicate one. He may yet be headed for the PUP list, but Kubiak is impressed with the work he’s put in, and said in so many words that Spencer is literally doing everything he can to get himself back on the field.

Mark Berman from FOX in Houston mentioned that Spencer has shown some gratitude to the Texans for not giving up on him. Let’s hope Spencer’s leg will allow him to show the coaches and fans that no matter how much time it takes – it will be worth it.