The Houston Texans completed a major contract restructuring with left offensive tackle Tony Boselli on Tuesday, one that will dramatically reduce his salary cap number for 2003 and likely buy the five-time Pro Bowler more time in his attempt to rehabilitate from shoulder injuries.

The maneuver, actually supported strongly by Boselli, will reduce his cap number for the coming season by a whopping $3.85 million.

"It was something Tony really felt compelled to do to help the Texans," agent Tom Mills said. "The team took care of him last year, when he wasn't able to play, and he wanted to help out."

Boselli, 30, was scheduled to earn a $4.5 million base salary for 2003. That will be reduced to just $650,000, the minimum salary for a player with his league tenure. If he is healthy and able to be a starter again, though, Boselli will earn back most or all of the difference.

Should he play 20 percent of the snaps, Boselli will collect of bonus of $500,000. The bonus structure will pay him additional $500,000 increments for every 10 percent more he plays. So if Boselli logs about 80 percent of the snaps, he will have made back the base salary he surrendered.

He is due a $2 million roster bonus on March 1. Mills reiterated his client will receive the roster bonus. Before the restructuring, Boselli had a $9.549 million salary cap number for 2003, prohibitive under any circumstances but especially difficult given the uncertainty surrounding his career.

The 2004 portion of the contract, which calls for a $4 million base salary and a $1 million roster bonus next spring, was not affected.

One of the game's most celebrated offensive linemen when healthy, Boselli has suffered through shoulder injuries, and has appeared in just three games over the past two seasons. He was able to practice only a handful of time last season, never appeared in a game for the Texans, and for the second year in a row finished the campaign on injured reserve.

Houston made Boselli its first pick in the expansion draft of veteran players. After diligent analysis of Boselli's shoulder problems, the Houston medical staff concluded he would be able to return to the game.

There are serious doubts now, however, that he will ever play again. Texans officials are said to be strongly considering using their first-round choice in the 2003 to select an offensive tackle.

Boselli underwent surgery on his right shoulder in October of 2001 and then on his left shoulder a month later. The left shoulder required two subsequent surgeries in the ensuing nine months.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com.