HOUSTON -- Tony Boselli expects to play football again, it just won't be this season.

	Boselli

The Houston Texans placed Boselli on injured reserve Tuesday, giving up hope that the five-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle could recover enough from three shoulder surgeries in the past year to help the expansion team this season.

The Texans thought Boselli would be a cornerstone for the offensive line this season, blocking for rookie No. 1 draft pick David Carr, at the crucial left tackle spot. Although he hasn't played in more than a year Boselli insists his career isn't over.

"I'm confident I'll be back out there,'' Boselli said. "Obviously it's not the timetable I wanted. If I thought there was no chance I'd play again, we'd quit and go a different direction but I'm confident I can play football still and that's the direction we're going in.

"They want me out there and I want to be out there. We just have to wait a little longer.''

Boselli played in three games for the Jacksonville Jaguars last season before injuries to both shoulders put him out for the season. He was placed on injured reserve by the Jaguars last Oct. 22.

Boselli had been making progress since joining the Texans but he wasn't gaining strength fast enough to allow him to compete.

"Once we hit September, we're on a clock,'' Casserly said. "We have 17 weeks to play 16 games. If you're objective is to have him play this season, at some point you have to accelerate certain processes.''

Boselli's strength simply wasn't enough.

"We were never going to put Tony on the field (unless) he was totally healthy and able to play at a winning football level,'' Casserly said. "We were never going to compromise him just to get him on the field.''

Team physical Dr. Walter Lowe thinks Boselli has plenty of football left in him.

"I wouldn't go there. I don't even want to have that talk today,'' Lowe said. "I don't think any of us think it's fourth and 20. "I think Tony believes he'll play again. I believe he'll play again.

"We have a ways to go to get to that point.''

Boselli started practicing with the team in early September after experiencing increased strength in August. But he wasn't ready for the season opener on Sept. 8 and his strength gains decreased over the past two weeks.

"It's a time related problem where Tony's strength wasn't increasing at a rate to get him to the point to where he could play in the time we have left,'' Lowe said. "It's not that his strength wasn't increasing, it just wasn't progressing to where he could play football.''

When Boselli was unable to start the season, the Texans moved rookie second round pick Chester Pitts from guard to left tackle and he has started all five games.

Injuries in the offensive line have been a problem all season.

Guard Ryan Schau recovered from a knee injury and started last week's game against Buffalo. Tackle Ryan Young has resumed workouts following a groin injury and could play Sunday against the Cleveland Browns.

"For the first time this week, we'll have our full complement of players out there after making this decision with Tony,'' coach Dom Capers said. "There's been uncertainty trying to measure Tony's progress.

"Once we made this decision, we know Ryan Young will work more tomorrow (Wednesday) on a limited basis.''

Capers said he'd consider activating Young if he makes enough progress before Sunday.