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Texans' Savage: 'This is my team ... I'm not going to let anyone take it'

Troy Taormina / USA TODAY Sports

The Houston Texans are fully expected to begin the 2017 season with fourth-year quarterback Tom Savage at the helm of their offense. He doesn't envision the depth chart changing after that.

"My mindset is that this is my team. And I'm not going to let anyone take it," Savage said, according to Sarah Barshop of ESPN.

Texans head coach Bill O'Brien named Savage the 2017 Week 1 starter following the trade of 2016 starter Brock Osweiler. Savage started the Texans' first preseason game, going 9-for-11 for 69 yards, before giving way to rookie DeShaun Watson.

Watson finished his first ever NFL game by going 15-for-25 and racking up 179 yards. He also rushed three times for 24 yards and a touchdown.

The low level of competitiveness in Week 1 of NFL preseason led to veteran signal caller Brandon Weeden also receiving playing time. Once the Texans revert to the one quarterback strategy of the NFL's regular season, Savage is confident he'll be able to keep Watson (and Weeden) on the sideline.

"It's a pretty simple equation I think a lot of people overthink, especially in this league. If you go there and you win and you play well, they can't pull you. And if you go out there and you lose and the offense doesn't look good, they can pull you," Savage said.

Savage started just two games last season before suffering an injury in Week 17 and missing both of the team's playoff contests. His season ended 46-for-73 on passing attempts, with 461 yards and no touchdowns or interceptions.

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