CANTON, Ohio - Houston safety Leomont Evans walked in the hospital Tuesday after bruising his spinal cord during the first half of the Texans' NFL debut in the Hall of Fame game.

The Texans said the 28-year-old Evans "continued to improve," and they were consulting with doctors at Aultman Hospital to determine when he can return to Houston.

Evans temporarily lost feeling in his arms and legs after a collision during Monday night's game.

The Texans returned to Houston early Tuesday morning, but left behind a member of their training staff to be with Evans.

Early in the second quarter of Monday night's game, Evans was injured while rushing a punt. After crossing the line of scrimmage, Evans lowered his helmet and drove it into the chest of Giants running back Sean Bennett.

Evans' body went limp and he dropped to the artificial turf as the ball was kicked.

The defensive back was motionless as the play unfolded around him and teammate Avion Black returned the punt 71 yards with 12:24 remaining in the first half.

Houston's training staff went on the field to tend to Evans, who signed with the club as a free agent in December.

As Evans was being treated, the Texans, who lost their first NFL game 34-17, knelt as a group in prayer in front of their bench. On the other sideline, about a dozen New York players - led by All-Pro Michael Strahan - dropped to a knee.

"You hate to see that," Giants coach Jim Fassel said. "I just stood there praying. For a while, I could not think of anything else. You see that and that's when the game and everything else that happens is inconsequential."

Emergency personnel strapped Evans on a backboard and took his facemask off before immobilizing his head and placing him on the stretcher.

Evans' injury turned an exciting night of pageantry and history for 23,000 fans and a national TV audience into a somber reminder of the violent nature of pro football.

Evans was drafted in the fifth round in 1996 by Washington out of Clemson.

He started all 16 games with the Redskins in 1999. He was cut in 2000 by Detroit and played last year in the XFL.

The Texans had another serious injury when wide receiver Trevor Insley broke his left ankle in the second half.