O’Brien mum on who will start for Texans
The NFL season is a week old, but the Houston Texans again have a quarterback controversy.
Coach Bill O’Brien said Monday that he would not reveal his Week 2 starter against the Carolina Panthers after Brian Hoyer was benched for Ryan Mallett in the fourth quarter of a 27-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.
“I’m not going to make a big quarterback announcement today,” O’Brien said. “You’ll have to wait for the first play of the Carolina game to see.”
Hoyer beat out Mallett for the starting job in training camp but finished 18 of 34 passing for 236 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Mallett connected on eight of 13 throws for 98 yards and a touchdown.
“That’s not something I worry about. I’m just focused on doing my job, trying to be the best left tackle I can be for whoever is under center, and getting my group together, the offensive line,” Texans veteran Duane Brown said of the uncertainty under center.
“Obviously we had a big test against that front seven, but it doesn’t matter who is under center. You have to give them time to operate. That’s all we can really focus on and the rest of it will play itself out.”
Injury updates: Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly and Cleveland Browns quarterback Josh McCown, who both left their games Sundays with concussions, were going through the league protocol Monday. It is not yet known if either will be available in Week 2. ... Washington Redskins coach Jay Gruden said receiver DeSean Jackson will miss three to four weeks with a hamstring injury. ... An MRI revealed Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr has a bruise on his right hand, but he might be available Sunday. ... Arizona Cardinals running back Andre Ellington has a sprained posterior cruciate ligament and could miss two to three weeks. ... The New York Jets said Monday that cornerback Antonio Cromartie had suffered a sprained knee and might still play in the team’s next game against the Indianapolis Colts. Jets rookie linebacker Lorenzo Mauldin, who was carted off the field Sunday, was released from the hospital after suffering a concussion. There was no injury to his neck. ... Dallas Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said he expected rookie pass rusher Randy Gregory to miss up to four weeks with a high ankle sprain. ... Colts No. 1 receiver T.Y. Hilton is considered day-to-day with a knee bruise.