Bill O'Brien could not afford to focus on the loss of rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson for the season. Just like after the Texans lost their star pass rushers J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus on the same series in Week 5 against Kansas City, the team needed to regroup and move forward.
O'Brien has navigated his team through injuries, quarterback changes, a major hurricane, and more. Now, all he could do was to coach his team and the players who were ready to play.
"What I tell the team is really between me and the team," O'Brien said Friday. "It's a very resilient bunch of guys, great veteran leadership in there and we'll battle. We're not going to give in to what's out there. 'The demise of the Houston Texans is upon us.' That's ridiculous. We're going to show up and fight and play. Savage will be the quarterback and Yates will be the backup and we'll go from there."
The (3-4) Texans are just one game from being in a tie for first place in the AFC South with nine games remaining. Watson led the offense to five consecutive games of 30-or-more points, but O'Brien still expects productivity to continue, no matter who is under center for the Texans.
"There's going to be some things that we adjust and things we don't and that's just going to be the way it is," O'Brien said. "It's still an offense that has to drive the football, score touchdowns. Whether it will look different or not, I guess we will all find out on Sunday."
The Texans return to NRG on Sunday to face the Indianapolis Colts. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. on CBS and SportsRadio 610.
Lady Texans, Houston Texans Cheerleaders and Ambassadors hosted Tees, Texans and Troops at Topgolf, where they golfed alongside 150 active military members and veterans.
