Texans scramble for QB for Ravens game
HOUSTON (AP) The Texans are scrambling to find a quarterback.
Coach Bill O'Brien confirmed Monday that Ryan Fitzpatrick suffered a broken leg in Sunday's loss to the Colts and will miss the rest of the season. He also said rookie backup Tom Savage suffered an undisclosed injury of his own and will miss at least this Sunday's game against Baltimore.
The Texans have lost all three quarterbacks who were on the opening day roster since Ryan Mallet went down last month with a torn pectoral muscle after his second start replacing Fitzpatrick.
''No, I haven't,'' O'Brien said when asked if he has been through a situation like this. ''That's the NFL. Injuries happen. The next guy has to step up whether the guys in the building at the time or is not in the building. The next guy has to step up and be ready to go.''
With Savage ruled out, O'Brien has a choice to make at quarterback between Thaddeus Lewis and Case Keenum, who was signed on Monday.
Lewis was signed last month. As a starter in Buffalo, he was 2-3 in 2013 and at least has that experience to lean on despite learning a new system.
''A lot better than I was when I first got here,'' Lewis responded when asked about his grasp of the offense after just three weeks. '' It's part of the job so you make sure you can understand as much as you can understand and the things you're not comfortable with you just let them know so you can work toward your strengths. I know I can get out there and operate and be efficient.''
Keenum re-joins the team after spending the first 14 weeks of the season on the St. Louis Rams' practice squad. He was cut by the Texans in preseason but is now back to bolster their depth chart and possibly start. Keenum took over for Matt Schaub in 2013 but went 0-8 down the stretch.
''I think there's a definite advantage to him having been with us,'' O'Brien said of Keenum. ''He was with us for a good amount of time. He was with us when we installed the offense and was with us in training camp . I think there's a definite advantage there.''
O'Brien said the decision on the starter will be made early this week but was clear that regardless of the choice the game plan will have to be altered saying the team ''would not overload'' the new quarterback.
Fitzpatrick had an up-and-down season after starting the first nine games and leading the team to a 4-5 record. He was replaced by Mallett, who went 1-1 before being lost for the season. Savage hits the injury list without getting to start a game.
The result leaves the team on the outside looking in at the AFC wild card race and preparing to play with its third starting quarterback of the season.
''It's the nature of the game, nature of the beast. It's something that around here we've been through in the past,'' center Chris Myers said. ''We've just got to move on and its next man up. That's the way it is at every position and unfortunately this year it's been at the quarterback position.''