With offensive tackle Duane Brown suspended for the next four games after violating the league's performance-enhancing drug policy, Houston Texans offensive tackle Rashad Butler will make his first NFL start on Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys.

A third-round pick (89th overall) out of Miami by the Carolina Panthers in 2006, the 6-5, 309-pound Butler did not appear in a game as a rookie, and was waived and claimed by the Texans in 2007.

After dressing for just 8 of his first 32 games with the Texans, Butler was active for all 16 games in 2009, and was tendered at the "Original Round" level as a restricted free agent this off-season.

Butler will make $1.176 million this season, and as John McClain of the Houston Chronicle reports, is aware that he has a four-game audition to earn a much larger contract as a free agent in 2011.

"Yeah, I've definitely thought about it, but I'm not going to let it define me as a player right now," Butler said. "I've got a long way to go. I've got this game and three more games after it, and a lot can happen. Right now, my goal is to beat the Cowboys."

Butler's first task: Keep DeMarcus Ware away from Matt Schaub.