HOUSTON -- Inside linebacker Brian Cushing missed practice for the second day in a row Thursday, but Houston Texans head coach Bill O'Brien declined to rule him out for Sunday's game against the Tennessee Titans.

"Coming off that injury postgame there's a lot of soreness," O'Brien said. "We have to ease him back into the week. He's day to day. We'll see how he is tomorrow. We'll bring him to Tennessee and see how he is before the game."

O'Brien flatly denied a report that Cushing will miss this weekend's game and could be out until after the Texans' bye week.

As he has done many times, O'Brien praised Cushing's character on and off the field and his work ethic. He acknowledged Cushing has been frustrated.

Cushing has been working his way back this season from his second knee surgery in as many years. He tore his anterior cruciate ligament during the 2012 season and returned in 2013 playing at a high level. In his first game back he returned an interception for a touchdown.

Then Cushing suffered another injury to the same knee last October in Kansas City. There, he broke his leg and suffered a torn lateral collateral ligament.

"As long as he's able to go, we're going to let him go," defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel said.