Jets' Coples warns teammates not to underestimate T.J. Yates

New York Jets linebacker Quinton Coples spent three seasons with T.J. Yates at North Carolina, and is warning teammates not to underestimate the Houston Texans' fill-in quarterback.

Yates, who rejoined the Texans late last month, is coming off a big 10-6 road upset of the previously unbeaten Cincinnati Bengals. With Brian Hoyer still nursing a concussion, he'll get the start Sunday against the Jets.

"He won a playoff game for them," Coples said, referring to the Texans’ 31-10 victory over the Bengals in January 2012, according to Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post. "I mean, he's not just some guy off the street. That's something we're going to have to keep in mind. It's not just some no-name backup we're going against out there."

Yates spent the first three seasons of his career with the Texans before being traded to the Atlanta Falcons in June 2014. The Texans' decision to part ways with Ryan Mallett cleared the way for Yates to return to Houston.

"He's going to compete, man," Coples said. "He's going to keep fighting, regardless of the situation. That means we're going to have to keep getting after him. The key is going to be hitting him early and putting him off-balance."

Coples said the Jets can also expect lots of trash talk from Yates on Sunday.

"He's a little fiery," Coples said. "You'll see him jumping around after big plays, and he'll talk to you a little bit if he does something good. He definitely won't be a robot out there, that's for sure."