Texans looking for something positive after rough week
As poorly as the Tennessee Titans' season has gone, the Houston Texans appear to have surpassed their AFC South rivals' misery in just this past week.
Losing star running back Arian Foster for the season, cutting a backup quarterback for missing a flight and a dreadful first-half performance were among the lowlights.
The Texans will try to rebound quickly and generate some positivity by adding to their recent success against the Titans on Sunday.
Tennessee (1-5) took its fifth consecutive loss and 15th in its last 16 games with a 10-7 defeat to Atlanta this past weekend. While the Titans were competitive, it took only a few minutes for Houston to seal its 44-26 loss in Miami.
The Texans (2-5) trailed 21-0 after one quarter and 41-0 at halftime. Even worse, they lost Foster to a torn right Achilles on their final drive.
"It's devastating," tackle Duane Brown said. "Just because I know how much he puts into this thing, how much work he puts in to be great, to be healthy, and to stay on the field. I know how hard he worked to come back from his groin injury. To have this happen, I'm really hurting for him. I know it's pretty frustrating."
Backup quarterback Ryan Mallett was forced to take a commercial flight to Miami after missing the team's charter and was released Tuesday. Coach Bill O'Brien reportedly had a confrontation with general manager Rick Smith because he wanted Mallett cut Saturday but denied there was a rift Wednesday.
"Rick Smith and I both have respect for each other. We work together every day. We communicate every day. It's a partnership," he said.
T.J. Yates, who played in Houston for three seasons, was signed as Mallett's replacement. Yates was cut by Atlanta before the start of this season.
"We're moving on. We're on Tennessee, looking forward to a good week, and going out there against a divisional opponent in our home stadium," defensive end J.J. Watt said.
Watt sat out practice early in this week with a "minor back issue" but said he expects to play. Linebacker Jadeveon Clowney has been fighting a sickness but might be on the field as well.
If they are available, it's unclear if they'll be trying to chase Zach Mettenberger or Marcus Mariota.
Mariota sat out last week's loss - the Titans' third by three points or fewer - because of a sprained left knee ligament but returned to limited participation in practice this week.
"Hopefully I can (return)," Mariota said. "Again, we're just going to kind of monitor the progress throughout the week. But it's feeling good."
Mettenberger went 22 of 35 for 187 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in his place. He was also the starter in each of Tennessee's two losses to Houston last season, including a 45-21 road defeat Nov. 30.
The NFL's leading receiver, DeAndre Hopkins, had a career-high 238 yards and two touchdowns in that victory. Hopkins has 58 catches for 776 yards and five TDs but was held to a season-low 50 yards in the loss to Miami.
The Texans have won five of the past six meetings and three straight on their own field. They won 30-16 at Tennessee on Oct. 26, but with Foster running for 151 yards and two touchdowns.
Houston will likely start Alfred Blue again in place of Foster. He started the first three games this season with Foster sidelined due to a groin injury.
Blue had 48 yards on 14 carries in the first two contests then ran for 139 on 31 attempts and a touchdown in a 19-9 win against Tampa Bay on Sept. 27.
He'll face one of the league's worst run defenses (129.2 yards allowed per game), but Tennessee has fared well on that side of the ball overall this season. The Titans are fifth in total defense (324.3 ypg) and second against the pass (195.2).
They're near the middle of the pack, however, with 23.2 points yielded per contest. Tennessee's offense is one of the worst in the league with 19.8 points and 326.3 yards per game.
The Texans' defense is also in the bottom half with their averages of 28.4 points and 370.9 yards allowed.
Houston wide receiver Nate Washington will face his former team for the first time. Washington, who played six seasons for the Titans, is in the top 10 in franchise history with 307 catches and 4,591 yards.
He had career highs of 74 receptions and 1,023 yards in 2011.
MORE FROM FOX SPORTS SOUTHWEST:
- PHOTOS: Cowboys Cheerleaders Auditions
- Ranking NFL quarterback salaries
- Highest paid player on every NFL team
- College football's biggest video boards
