The backup quarterback battle is an ever-changing storyline in Houston.
Behind the starter Matt Schaub, the second quarterback has alternated between T.J. Yates and Case Keenum through the first two preseason games. The question of Yates or Keenum on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints will come Friday, according to head coach Gary Kubiak. While some teams are struggling to name their starting quarterback, the Texans have a battle at backup.
"I'm going to keep pushing both of them to the end with this thing," Kubiak said. "There's not going to be any decision made. I'll decide who goes second here probably tomorrow after our visit with the coaches tonight, but then they both will play obviously a great deal against Dallas. We're going to take this thing all the way until the end. I think it's extremely close. They've both played well and I think it's important for us, as a team, to push them to the end and just see how it goes throughout the course of preseason."
Both quarterbacks have boasted touchdown scoring drives and no turnovers through the first half of preseason. Yates is 20-for-30 with 235 yards and 2 touchdowns while Keenum has completed 24-of-36 passes for 275 yards and two touchdowns. Both have a completion rate of 66.7%.
The two quarterbacks have certainly kept things close.
"That's a great battle we've got at the number two quarterback spot," All-Pro tackle Duane Brown said. "Those guys have played really well. It's really hard to pick one of them right now. Both are very talented. Very, very poised when they're in there and I think they've progressed very well."
With the Texans first round of roster cuts just days away, the decision to keep three quarterbacks on the roster is looming.
"I think it's probably too early to say that because you don't know what else is going on with your team, but I would say that we've got three very good ones," Kubiak said of the impending decision. "Don't let good football players go, so they're all playing very good."
