Texans quarterback situation uncertain because of injuries
HOUSTON (AP) Brandon Weeden could start for the Houston Texans on Sunday against Tennessee as they try to clinch the AFC South title.
Houston is down to Weeden, the third-string quarterback, because T.J. Yates suffered a season-ending torn ACL on Sunday and Brian Hoyer remains in the concussion protocol.
Hoyer suffered his second concussion in less than a month on Dec. 13 and must be cleared by an independent neurologist before he can return.
Coach Bill O'Brien wasn't sure of Hoyer's chances of playing on Sunday.
''I think it has more to do with how the independent doctors evaluate him and how our training staff works with them as far as the evaluation,'' O'Brien said. ''I think we'll know something better after probably (Tuesday).''
Weeden, who was signed by the Texans on Nov. 19, took over on Sunday after Yates was injured and helped Houston to its first win in Indianapolis, making him the fourth quarterback to get a victory for the Texans this season. The Texans need a win over the Titans and a loss by the Colts at Miami on Sunday to win the division.
Houston placed Yates on injured reserve on Monday and signed B.J. Daniels from Seattle's practice squad to take his spot on the roster. Daniels was a quarterback in college at South Florida, but has played both quarterback and receiver in the NFL.
''We're going to train him to play quarterback, but we're also going to do some things with him as a receiver,'' O'Brien said. ''We're not going to try to put too much on his plate. It'd be more like packages and then we'll see how it goes throughout the week whether he's up for the game day (but) a lot of that has to do with Brian.''
Weeden was 11 of 18 for 105 yards and a touchdown in his first appearance for the Texans. He played four games with three starts for the Cowboys early this season and was released by Dallas when Tony Romo returned from his first injury this season.
Because he was the third string quarterback until last week when Hoyer was out, Weeden had almost no experience working with Houston's first-team offense.
''My confidence and my timing is just not what it needs to be,'' Weeden said. ''That is kind of to be expected. I haven't thrown any of those routes to any of those guys, so that just comes with time.
''I thought as the game went on the communication got better. I think I settled down and started really communicating and getting guys lined up. There is a couple of throws I would like to have back, but like I said, just uncertainty of timing and just getting a better feel for it.''
O'Brien said that things were probably more difficult for Weeden on Sunday because he had to orchestrate a game plan that was made for Yates. That will be different this week if Hoyer is out again.
''Now we can probably do some things that, if he is the guy, that are more to his skillset, tailored more to him,'' O'Brien said.
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