After dealing Brock Osweiler to the Cleveland Browns in a trade at the start of free agency, the Texans have just two quarterbacks remaining on the roster. Both Tom Savage and DeAndre Hopkins have started games under head coach Bill O'Brien, and could be the only two heading into OTAs (organized team activities).
"We feel like, right now, we have two quarterbacks that'll be there on April 17, the beginning of our offseason program," O'Brien said in an interview via NFL Network. "It'll be Tom Savage and Brandon Weeden. We are really looking forward to working with those guys. Both those guys can throw the football. Tom is a guy who played two or three games for us last year, played well, did some good things for our football team. Still a young player, so we're real excited to work with him. We're excited to be working with Brandon. Two years ago, he helped us win a couple games as our starting quarterback, so that's where it is right now."
O'Brien did not rule out the possibility of adding to the quarterback room in free agency or via the NFL Draft, which takes place April 27 through April 29. He did not, however, comment on questions regarding Tony Romo as a possibility, stating that the Cowboys quarterback is still under contract "so he's still a Dallas Cowboy."
"Now, every day in this league is a fluid situation," O'Brien said, "Every day, whether it's the draft or free agency or someone gets released or whatever that is. But today, as we sit here right now, we're excited and we will be excited about who we have in that room, and of course, over the next few weeks, maybe we add to that room, maybe we don't..."
If the Texans do head into the 2017 season with Savage as the starting quarterback, he will have the most experience in O'Brien's offense. Savage, a fourth-round selection in the 2014 NFL Draft, saw action in the final three games of the 2016 regular season. In Week 15 against Jacksonville, Savage came off the bench to complete 23-of-36 passes for 260 yards, no touchdowns, no interceptions. The third-year quarterback got his first career NFL start the following week against Cincinnati, when the Texans clinched the AFC South.
Weeden, now entering his third season with the Texans, started three games in 2015 when Romo was placed on IR Designated To Return. The Texans claimed the former first-round draft pick in November 2015. Weeden then led Houston to its first franchise win in Indianapolis after T.J. Yates left with an injury in the second quarter. In 2015, Weeden completed 26-of-42 for 305 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions against the Colts and Titans in Weeks 15 and 16.
