Recently acquired Brandon Weeden is on track to play as starting quarterback for the Houston Texans on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans. This move, according to the Houston Chronicle, has been made because fellow quarterback Brian Hoyer is ruled out for the said match and remains under the NFL's concussion protocol.
Hoyer, 30, sustained a concussion on December 13; it is the second head injury he has dealt with in the current season. Texans head coach Bill O'Brien told reporters on Wednesday that while Hoyer returned to practice on a limited basis, he remains under the league's protocol. Houston reportedly acquired B.J. Daniels from the Seattle Seahawks and assigned him to the team's practice squad to increase depth at the position.
Weeden, who will fill in for Hoyer, was released by the Dallas Cowboys earlier this year and will be backed up by Daniels. The 32-year-old quarterback made his debut for the Texans just last week after T.J. Yates injured his ACL during the game against Indianapolis. He helped lead the team to a critical win over the Colts, completing 11 out of 18 passes for 105 yards and one touchdown.
When asked about the status of his injury, Hoyer mentioned earlier this week, "Obviously with any concussion you're going to be concerned, so I don't take it lightly, I do a lot of research. I talk to a lot of people who are highly respected in the area. I feel good and now the doctors are basically evaluating that. I can't clear myself, so I respect their opinion and the process."
As mentioned, Texans quarterback T.J. Yates is currently out and will undergo surgery to treat a torn ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) in his left knee on Monday, according to the team's official website. The 28-year-old player sustained a season-ending knee injury while taking on the Indianapolis Colts last weekend.
The initial diagnosis from doctors last Sunday was that he had torn the said ligament, and tests conducted the following Monday in Houston confirmed the extent of the injury.
Yates never even had a minor knee issue during the course of his five professional seasons in the league. As such, starting the rehabilitation process for such a significant injury will likely be an unfamiliar experience for him.
He finished 6 out of 10 passes for 68 yards, with no touchdowns and one interception last Sunday prior the mishap. "Getting surgery on Monday and starting the process. I'm excited to get things going. I'm more annoyed than anything. I know I'll come back. I know I'll be fine, but it's terrible timing for everything. I'm ready to get the process started," Yates answered when asked about how he feels about his upcoming surgery.
