Who will be starting under center for the Houston Texans Week 1? Your guess is as good as Bill O’Brien‘s.
The first-year Texans coach added journeyman Ryan Fitzpatrick via free agency and Tom Savage through the draft, alongside Case Keenum and T.J. Yates. After the first day of OTAs Tuesday, the Houston Chronicle reported all four are in contention for the starting gig.
Four quarterbacks have a chance to be the Texans’ Week 1 starter.
Ryan Fitzpatrick, Case Keenum, T.J. Yates and rookie Tom Savage participated during the first day of OTAs Tuesday at the Texans’ indoor practice facility near NRG Stadium.
First-year coach Bill O’Brien said the team will eventually make a decision about its quarterback situation, which will affect repetitions during training camp. But as of Tuesday, the race for the starter spot remains “wide open.”
The advantage may be in Fitzpatrick’s favor, as he’s the most seasoned of the bunch. Both Keenum and Yates have served as backups for the team over the years, while Savage is likely O’Brien’s quarterback of the future.
According to the Houston Chronicle’s online poll, 52 percent of readers believe it will second-year player Keenum who earns the nod. Fitzpatrick currently stands second with 32 percent, with Savage in third place at 13 percent.
There is, of course, the chance the starter isn’t even on the team yet.
Houston is still rumored to be in the mix for New England Patriots backup quarterback Ryan Mallett, who played under O’Brien when he was the offensive coordinator under Bill Belichick.
Earlier this month, NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reported there was still “mutual interest” between the Patriots and Texans to strike a deal. Since then, Belichick said the team isn’t interested in dealing Mallett, which was confirmed by the Houston Chronicle.
Like the fur signal-callers in contention for the Texans’ starting job, there is plenty unknowns about Mallett, too.
