Johnson ranked seventh on NFL Network’s ‘Top 100’ list last year. A five-time Pro Bowler, he played in only seven regular-season games in 2011 because of hamstring injuries and caught 33 passes for 492 yards and two touchdowns. He had 13 catches for 201 yards and a touchdown in the Texans’ two playoff games.

Johnson led the NFL in receiving yards in 2008 and 2009, becoming the second player in league history with 1,500 receiving yards in back-to-back seasons. He has averaged 79.1 receiving yards per game in his career, highest in NFL history among players with at least 100 games played. Since quarterback Matt Schaub came to Houston in 2007, Johnson has 93.5 receiving yards per game, 11.5 yards better over that span than the next-closest player, Larry Fitzgerald of the Cardinals.

Fitzgerald and the Lions’ Calvin Johnson will finish ahead of Johnson on the list. Johnson was the 12th wide receiver to make the ‘Top 100,’ following the Giants’ Hakeem Nicks (90), Packers’ Jordy Nelson (80), Bengals’ A.J.  Green (77), Eagles’ DeSean Jackson (71), Falcons’ Roddy White (65), Packers’ Greg Jennings (56), Bears’ Devin Hester (48), Steelers’ Mike Wallace (47), Giants’ Victor Cruz (39), Panthers’ Steve Smith (35) and Patriots’ Wes Welker (23).

Also representing the Texans on the ‘Top 100’ list in 2012 were running back Arian Foster (25th), linebacker Brian Cushing (54th) and cornerback Johnathan Joseph (73rd). The Texans had the same amount of players on the list this year, after going 10-6 and winning the AFC South, as they did last year after finishing 6-10.

The NFL has informed us that a Texans player will be unveiled on tonight’s ‘Top 100′ show on NFL Network, which airs at 7 p.m. CT, and that the player was on the list in 2011. The only one who that could be is Johnson.

Johnson ranked seventh on the list last year. He was joined by teammates Arian Foster (25th), Vonta Leach (65th) and Mario Williams (71st). Foster was already named to this year’s list, while Leach and Williams are no longer with the Texans.

A five-time Pro Bowler, Johnson played in only seven games last season because of hamstring injuries, catching 33 passes for 492 yards and two touchdowns. He had 13 catches for 201 yards and a touchdown in the Texans’ two playoff games. He led the NFL in receiving yards in 2008 and 2009 and has averaged 79.1 receiving yards per game in his career, highest in NFL history among players with at least 100 games played.

Johnson will be the fourth, and presumably final, Texans player on the ‘Top 100′ in 2012. Cornerback Johnathan Joseph ranked 73rd, linebacker Brian Cushing ranked 54th and Foster ranked 25th.

Foster’s place on the list was revealed on Wednesday evening on NFL Network. He joins cornerback Johnathan Joseph (73) and linebacker Brian Cushing (54) as the third Texans player to make the list in 2012.

Foster was the 11th running back named to the list, following Tennessee’s Chris Johnson (100), Denver’s Willis McGahee (98), Seattle’s Marshawn Lynch (94), Atlanta’s Michael Turner (88), New Orleans’ Darren Sproles (86), Buffalo’s Fred Jackson (83), Oakland’s Darren McFadden (60), St. Louis’ Steven Jackson (37), Chicago’s Matt Forte (33) and San Francisco’s Frank Gore (28).

Running backs Adrian Peterson, LeSean McCoy, Ray Rice and Maurice Jones-Drew all will presumably make the list and rank ahead of Foster.

Over the last two seasons, Foster leads the NFL with 4,061 yards from scrimmage, 30 touchdowns and 26 rushing touchdowns and ranks second with 2,840 rushing yards. He ranked fifth in the NFL with 1,224 rushing yards in 2011 despite missing three-and-a-half games, and he set an NFL record with 285 rushing yards in his first two playoff games. Foster also became the fifth player in NFL history with back-to-back seasons of more than 1,000 rushing yards and 600 receiving yards.

Foster also ranked 25th on NFL Network’s ‘Top 100’ list in 2011, after leading the NFL with 1,616 rushing yards, 2,220 yards from scrimmage and 20 touchdowns during the 2010 season.

Cushing was the eighth linebacker named to the list, following Cleveland’s D’Qwell Jackson (96), Washington’s London Fletcher (87), San Francisco’s NaVorro Bowman (85), Kansas City’s Derrick  Johnson (78), Chicago’s Lance Briggs (72), Pittsburgh’s LaMarr Woodley (63) and New Orleans’ Jonathan Vilma (58). Linebackers Von Miller (52) from Denver and Brian Urlacher (51) from Chicago ranked ahead of him.

Cushing, who did not make the list in 2011, was asked by NFL Network on Wednesday evening if he feels at all vindicated.

“A little bit,” he said.  “I’m honored to be on, but at the same time, I’m looking to improve still.”

Cushing led the Texans’ second-ranked defense last season with 114 tackles, 37 more than his next-closest teammate. He also had four sacks, two interceptions and two forced fumbles. He was voted a team captain at midseason, earned team MVP and was named second-team All-Pro, but he did not make the Pro Bowl — much to the chagrin of defensive coordinator Wade Phillips.

“I’m not the one ranking this, but I am a competitive guy,” Cushing said of the ‘Top 100′ list. “I feel that if anything, I’m just going to continue to improve. Hope to be higher on the list next year, and we’ll leave it up to the voters.”

Cushing is the second Texans player on the ‘Top 100’ list in 2012, joining cornerback Johnathan Joseph (73). Ten players are revealed each Wednesday on NFL Network.

According to the NFL, the Texan to be revealed in the 51-60 range plays on defense and was not included on the list last year.

Cornerback Johnathan Joseph has already made the list at No. 73. None of the Texans’ current defensive players made it last year, so linebacker Brian Cushing and defensive ends Antonio Smith and J.J. Watt are among the possibilities for tonight’s show.

Four Texans players made the ‘Top 100′ in 2011: wide receiver Andre Johnson (No. 7 overall), running back Arian Foster (25), fullback Vonta Leach (65) and defensive end Mario Williams (71).

Joseph is the third cornerback on the list so far. Rams cornerback Cortland Finnegan checked in at No. 93, while Eagles corner Nnamdi Asomugha was 79th.

“When teams get the scouting report, there are a few highlighted players that you need to know,” Titans safety Jordan Babineaux said on NFL Network’s profile of Joseph that aired Wednesday evening. “He’s one of those guys.”

Joseph was a first-time Pro Bowler and second-team All-Pro in 2011, his first season with the Texans. The former Cincinnati Bengal locked down the opposing team’s top wide receiver each week as the Texans improved from 32nd to third in passing defense. Only two wide receivers topped 80 yards against him all season.

“You know what you’re going to get with Johnathan: A really fast, man-to-man cover guy who can make plays on the ball,” said Jaguars quarterback Blaine Gabbert, who was picked off by Joseph last season in Week 12.

Texans quarterback T.J. Yates and defensive end Antonio Smith also chimed in on Joseph on the NFL Network special.

“He’s got amazing ball skills,” Yates said. “He goes up and gets the ball like he’s Andre Johnson.”

Added Smith: “I like him ‘cuz he aggressive. He gets up in players’ faces. I don’t never see him back down. He’s tenacious.”

Joseph is the first Texans player on the ‘Top 100’ list in 2012. Ten players are revealed each week on NFL Network.

According to the NFL, the Texan to be revealed in the 71-80 range plays on defense and was not included on the list last year.

Four Texans players made the ‘Top 100′ in 2011: wide receiver Andre Johnson (No. 7 overall), running back Arian Foster (25), fullback Vonta Leach (65) and defensive end Mario Williams (71). None of the Texans’ current defensive players was on the 2011 list, so linebacker Brian Cushing, cornerback Johnathan Joseph and defensive ends J.J. Watt and Antonio Smith are all among the possibilities for tonight’s show.

Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder, Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs and Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio presented Johnson in the six-minute-long video that aired on NFL Network on Sunday night. 

“Andre Johnson’s probably the epitome of an athlete that I’ve ever been on the field with,” Crowder said. “He’s big, he’s strong, he’s fast, he’s a playmaker. I’ve seen him throw; I’ve seen everything… He’s a man amongst boys.”

Said Suggs: “He’s a physical mismatch to all the corners in the NFL. He’s about 6-4, 230 pounds, pure muscle. The kid’s a freak.”

Added Del Rio: “It’s that innate competitor inside him that really makes him special… You’ll have coverage, you’ll have a DB in position, and then he’ll just go up and be stronger than the guy, a little faster than a guy and make the play.”

Johnson, a five-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro, was the highest-rated wide receiver on NFL Network’s list. The only players who finished ahead of him were Steelers safety Troy Polamalu (6th), Ravens safety Ed Reed (5th), Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis (4th), Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (3rd), Colts quarterback Peyton Manning (2nd) and Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (1st).

Here’s a final look at the Texans players who made the Top 100:

WR Andre Johnson (7)
RB Arian Foster (25)
FB Vonta Leach (65)
DE Mario Williams (71)

Which means, barring a major upset, that Johnson will be in the top 10. The final installment of the Top 100 list, which is voted on by players, will air next Sunday on NFL Network at 7 p.m. CT.

How high will Johnson end up in the rankings? Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com thinks he should be fifth. The next-highest ranked wide receiver, Larry Fitzgerald of the Arizona Cardinals, came in at No. 14.

Three other Texans made the Top 100: defensive end Mario Williams (71), fullback Vonta Leach (65) and running back Arian Foster (25).

Foster will finish as the third-ranked running back on the Top 100 list, which is voted on by players. The league leader in rushing yards, scrimmage yards and touchdowns last season, he ranked ahead of the Raiders’ Darren McFadden (No. 98), 49ers’ Frank Gore (94), Ravens’ Ray Rice (56), Falcons’ Michael Turner (42), Rams’ Steven Jackson (38), Chiefs’ Jamaal Charles (33) and Jags’ Jones-Drew (30). Chris Johnson of the Titans and Adrian Peterson of the Vikings are the only running backs who will rank higher.

Foster is the third Texan to make the ‘Top 100.’ Fullback Vonta Leach ranked 65th, while defensive end Mario Williams was 71st. Texans quarterback Matt Schaub and linebackers DeMeco Ryans and Brian Cushing will not be in the Top 100.

Wide receiver Andre Johnson will be on the list — it’s just a question of how high. Players 11-20 will be revealed on NFL Network this Sunday at 7 p.m. CT, and the top 10 will be revealed a week later.