Houston Texans second-round running back Ben Tate has been bothered by a hamstring injury throughout the off-season workouts, but was finally able to get some on-field work in on Thursday.

"It's about time," Tate said. "I'm just getting back into the mix, trying to stay on top of everything."

In 47 games at the University of Auburn, Tate carried the ball 678 times for 3,321 yards (4.9 avg) and 24 touchdowns, leading the Tigers in rushing in each of the last three seasons. Tate is a big (5-11, 220), one-cut and go runner who will compete with Steve Slaton and Arian Foster for the starting running back spot this summer.

Slaton battled injuries and fumbles last season, and with Tate on the shelf, Foster has been getting the bulk of the first-team reps during the OTAs.

An undrafted free agent out of Tennessee in 2009, Foster spent much of his rookie year on the practice squad before finishing with 216 yards and 3 touchdowns on 39 carries in the final two weeks of the regular season, including 119 yards in his first NFL start against the New England Patriots in Week 17.