Texans RB Arian Foster has surgery tentatively scheduled for Monday

— -- Houston Texans running back Arian Foster is tentatively scheduled for groin surgery on Monday, according to a source. 

Foster is going to Philadelphia to get a second opinion from Dr. William Meyers, a sports hernia specialist. Unless Meyers suggests something different, Foster will have the surgery in Houston on Monday, the source said. 

Foster suffered a groin injury on a pass play Monday night during the Texans' first fully padded training camp practice. He likely will miss the start of the regular season and could be placed on short-term injured reserve, which would allow the Texans to bring him back to practices after Week 6 and into a game after Week 8.

Foster ranked sixth in the NFL last season with 1,246 rushing yards even though injuries caused him to miss three games entirely and parts of three others.

The Texans had running backs Pierre Thomas, Joe McKnight and Ben Malena in to work out Wednesday to try to help fill the void of Foster's absence. 

"We want someone that can do a little bit of everything," coach Bill O'Brien said.

Thomas' agent, Lamont Smith, tweeted Wednesday that his client and the Texans couldn't agree to a deal.

Second-year back Alfred Blue is expected to take over first-team duties in Foster's absence. Blue was drafted in the sixth round last season.

Jonathan Grimes, entering his fourth season in the NFL, and fullback Jay Prosch also return from last season. The Texans also added Chris Polk in free agency and drafted Kenny Hilliard out of LSU in the seventh round this year.