Texans Are Running Out of Quarterbacks

Added on Nov 28, 2011 by Scott in

NFL

It took exactly one week for the Houston Texans to lose their top two quarterbacks. Starter Matt Schaub was placed on injured reserve with a Lisfranc foot sprain and backup Matt Leinart might be the next to follow after breaking his left collarbone in Sunday’s victory over Jacksonville. That leaves rookie T.J. Yates and recently signed journeyman Kellen Clemens as the only healthy signal-callers on the roster.

Leinart was removed in the second quarter and later spotted standing on the sideline dressed in street clothes wearing a sling on his wounded shoulder. Prior to exiting, he completed 10-13 passes for 57 yards including a 20-yard touchdown pass to tight end Joel Dreessen.

Head coach Gary Kubiak was noncommittal on whether Leinart’s season was over.

“I’m going to hold off (on saying Leinart done for season),” Kubiak said. “We don’t feel good about the X-ray we’re looking at here. We’re going to wait until we get home. … I’m just telling you what I know.”

Leinart is scheduled to undergo further tests today, but the outlook isn’t very promising. The normal recovery time for such an injury is a minimum of 6 to 8 weeks. Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo missed the final ten games of 2010 after suffering a similar break.

T.J. Yates went 8 of 15 for 70 yards in relief of Leinart and will receive the majority of the first-team snaps in preparation for the Week 13 game versus Atlanta. As for Kellen Clemens, he’s going through a crash course in the offense just in case he’s needed. He last started a game in 2009 while a member of the Jets. Veterans Jeff Garica and Trent Edwards worked out last week and either could be signed in the coming days.

At 8-3, the Texans lead the AFC South by two games over the Titans. Needless to say, relying on either Yates or Clemens to lead them into the playoffs is far from ideal. They are attempting to qualify for the postseason for the first time in their brief history.

Source: NFL.com