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HOUSTON -- The start of Houston Texans minicamp on Friday was more than just a practice to Charles Spencer.
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The 6-foot-4, 338-pound offensive lineman took the field with his team for the first time since breaking his left leg nearly two years ago, a severe injury that doctors thought could end his career.
It's a minor miracle that he's even playing again, but Spencer's goal now is earning back his job.
"I'm taking it day by day. I ain't rushing nothing," Spencer said. "I'm excited to show these coaches what I can do."
Ephraim Salaam has started at left tackle in all 30 games since Spencer's injury. The Texans used their first-round pick this year on tackle Duane Brown and coach Gary Kubiak said Brown is the front-runner to take over position this season.
Spencer showed the same potential when the Texans drafted him in the third round in 2006. He was the Texans' starting left tackle for the first two games of 2006, but was injured in the third quarter of his second game, Houston's 43-24 loss to Indianapolis on Sept. 17.
When it happened, Spencer thought he had only sprained his knee. But team physician Dr. Walter Lowe gave him the ominous diagnosis after an X-ray -- spiral fracture of the tibia with torn cartilage under his kneecap.
"That's when it set in," said Spencer, a college standout at Pittsburgh. "I had worked so hard, coming from the north and coming down and working in this heat and fighting for a starting job. It was tough. I had to face a lot of adversity and I had some more to deal with."
Spencer had surgery the day after sustaining the injury. His leg was immobilized for two weeks and months of painstaking rehabilitation followed. Spencer relied on teammates to keep his spirits up and drew daily motivation from his daughters, Nhyairah and Vizzsun, who are now 5 and 1½.
"I've got a family to take care of and I've got to support them," Spencer said. "If I'm not coming to work and working hard, then I'm not providing for the family."
He had another surgery last June and doctors discovered that the cartilage was growing back and that the injury was healing properly.
"It was a very severe injury on a very large man," Texans trainer Kevin Bastin said. "He's been very disciplined in his work and his rehab process and the small steps we've been taking with him really paid off."
Once he was able to run again, Spencer had to overcome the fear of re-injuring it.
