Texans fans concerned about the team's quarterback depth after Houston traded Sage Rosenfels this offseason should have nothing to fear, according to CBSSports.com senior writer Clark Judge. In a recent column, Judge says that **the Texans have one of the 10 best backup quarterbacks** in the NFL - and he's not even the guy the Texans signed to a big contract to be Matt Schaub's No. 2 this offseason (Dan Orlovsky). Rather, it's Rex Grossman that Judge puts in the company of Jeff Garcia, Derek Anderson, Rosenfels and Matt Leinart.
Grossman has participated in only three mini-camp practices with the Texans. He joined the team on June 12, the day after OTAs concluded, as a free agent from the Chicago Bears. And Orlovksy was one of the Texans' top free agent signings coming off of a season in which he impressed Texans coach Gary Kubiak in seven starts for the Detroit Lions. But Judge likes Grossman's big-game experience (which includes Super Bowl XLI), record as a starter (19-12) and change of scenery (he was much-maligned by the fans and media in Chicago).
"He is out of the eye of the storm, which is where the starter in Chicago sits, and should be comfortable backing up Matt Schaub," Judge says. "As a backup a year ago, he relieved an injured Kyle Orton and produced two TDs, including the winner on a quarterback sneak."
A first-round draft pick in 2003, Grossman has thrown for 6,164 career yards with 33 touchdowns and 35 interceptions. His career passer rating is 70.2. He has a lot of catching up to do with Orlovsky, who had a three-month head start in the Texans' offense, but the competition between the two will begin July 31 when the Texans report for the first day of training camp.
