Tom Savage will start Thursday's game in Dallas as the Texans close out their 2015 preseason. Head coach Bill O'Brien wants to see how the second year quarterback orchestrates the offense and how the rest of the players perform around him.
"I want Tom to have a good game," O'Brien said. "I want him to get into a good rhythm: get us into the right play, throw the ball accurately. (I) need the line to block well, obviously for him and the passing game and the receivers to get open but also in the running game. So, I want us to get in a rhythm offensively, play very hard, which I know we will."
Through three games, Savage has completed 28-of-45 passes for 323 yards and two touchdowns. He averages 7.2 yards per attempt and has a team-high passer rating of 98.7. Brian Hoyer is 16-of-26 for 201 yards and one touchdown while Ryan Mallett completed 24-for-35 for 190 yards and a score.
The Texans final preseason matchup will feature more of the younger players, O'Brien said Monday. While starters don't traditionally play in the fourth preseason game, it doesn't lessen the importance of the game, according to the head coach, who estimates "at least ten spots" are still up for competition as players fight to make the team. The deadline for trimming the roster down to 53 is Saturday, September 5 at 3 p.m. CT.
The Texans and Cowboys kick off their preseason matchup on Thursday at 7 p.m. CT on KTRK ABC-13 and SportsRadio 610.
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