Team says Savage’s season is likely over
Yates would remain starter at quarterback for final two games
For the first time since Tom Savage suffered a concussion that caused his hands and arms to twitch while he was on the ground, Texans coach Bill O’Brien acknowledged the quarterback might not play again this season.
“Yes, there’s a chance,” O’Brien said Monday when asked about the possibility Savage could be sidelined for the rest of the season in the wake of the concussion he suffered against San Francisco on Dec. 10.
Under that scenario, backup quarterback T.J. Yates would remain the starter for the final two games of the season.
League sources not authorized to speak publicly reiterated Savage isn’t expected to play again this season. They said that’s due
to the potential risk involved of a recurrence of Savage’s head injury, the high-profile nature of the situation with the NFL and the NFL Players Association launching a joint investigation into how the protocol was handled and the fact the Texans aren’t competing for anything because of their 4-10 record. Plus, Savage, 27, is a pending unrestricted free agent.
O’Brien added he didn’t know how Savage is doing and that he remains under the NFL concussion protocol. Savage hasn’t returned to practice since absorbing a punishing hit from 49ers linebacker Elvis Dumervil.
Yates was under duress during the Texans’ 45-7 blowout loss Sunday as the team was manhandled by the Jaguars. He was sacked four times and hit nine times, completing 12 of 31 passes for 128 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
Yates finished the game with a 48.9 passer rating against one of the top defenses in the NFL.
Cutting no slack
Yates was hard on himself Sunday even though there was little time to throw.
“Pretty embarrassing,” Yates said. “Nothing worked, nothing going on. I mean, I didn’t give us a chance. I have to be better at everything. Accuracy, decision-making. Just working the offense, it starts with me. Everybody knows that, but we just have to do a better job.”
Yates completed passes to two wide receivers: DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller. The other three completions were to running backs Jay Prosch and Lamar Miller for 4 yards.
O’Brien in his corner
O’Brien said Yates battled despite being under constant pressure. Yates had two touchdown passes against the 49ers in relief of Savage, but he wasn’t as effective against a stout Jacksonville defense that leads the NFL in sacks and fewest points allowed.
“He hung in there and tried to play as good as he could,” O’Brien said.
As usual, O’Brien took the blame for everything. Yates was accountable for his part in the offensive struggles. The Texans generated nine first downs and 186 net yards.
“It’s not on him, absolutely not,” Yates said. “The plays are out there to be made. There’s guys open, there’s holes. Obviously, there’s some plays where the defense did a good job and we got beat or made a poor decision. There’s definitely plays out there to be made and it kind of just started snowballing.”