Texans hope to use Reliant Stadium Oct. 5

HOUSTON, Sept. 16 (UPI) -- The owner of the Houston Texans said Tuesday he hopes his NFL team's Oct. 5 game against Indianapolis can be played in storm-damaged Reliant Stadium.

Owner Bob McNair said he was "optimistic" about playing at 6-year-old Reliant Stadium, which had its movable roof damaged by Hurricane Ike, which made landfall as a Category 2 storm, the Houston Chronicle reported. A backup plan would be to use 58-year-old Rice Stadium.

McNair said five roof panels that were damaged "can be replaced."

"Hopefully we won't run into too great a delay in getting those replaced, but at this point we really don't know," McNair told the Chronicle. "We build things to withstand hurricanes. But what level? Most things aren't built to withstand (a Category 5 storm, the most severe kind). Those panels were supposed to withstand winds up to 100, 110 miles an hour. That was borderline, I guess."

The team plays at Tennessee Sunday in the second of three straight road games. It is to play four consecutive home games against Indianapolis, Miami, Detroit and Cincinnati.