Houston Texans pass starting QB role to Tom Savage after Watson season-ending injury

Photo by Darla S. Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2017 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2017 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (November 5, 2017)  With a few hours left before Houston faces the Indianapolis Colts, the talk among Texan fans is can backup quarterback Tom Savage fill the shoes left by injured rookie Deshaun Watson (shown right). Beginning at 12 noon CST, those in the stands at NRG Stadium and millions more watching on television will see if the success generated under command of their rookie quarterback, who was injured earlier in the week during practice, will continue with Savage.

Watson, who was having a remarkable rookie season, tore his ACL in a non-contact drill on Thursday. As a result, Watson is out for the season and Savage will take command of the Texans on the field. Texan staff quickly signed Matt McGloin to back up Savage and also were in the process of signing T.J. Yates to also serve in a back up role, according the ESPN's Dan Graziano and Jeff Dickerson.

Savage has seen limited action in 2017, playing in two games, completing seven passes (on 13 attempts) for 62 yards and no touchdowns. After playing four seasons with the Oakland Raiders (2013-2016), he was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles on April 10, 2017. He was released by the Eagles on September 1, 2017. In his four seasons in Oakland, he played in 13 games, started in seven, and was 171-of-277 for 1,868 yards and 11 touchdowns, while throwing 11 interceptions. 2017 will be Yates' third stint with the Texans; first playing from 2011 to 2013, and again in 2015. In 2016 he saw action in one game for Miami.

No matter what happens inside NRG Stadium on Sunday, the Texans and their fans are going to miss Watson in the backfield.