The Texans have emphasized that quarterback Jake Delhomme wasn’t brought to town to take the job of starter T.J. Yates. But Delhomme already has taken the job of Yates’ backup for last week, Kellen Clemens.
Delhomme will be the No. 2 behind Yates when the Texans host the Falcons on Sunday.
“Jake’s done it before,” coach Gary Kubiak said Friday, via John McClain of the Houston Chronicle. “He’s played a lot of football, and he can handle himself. I can trust what he’s telling me he can do right now if we get in that situation.
“It’s just a comfort zone from a leadership standpoint and the amount of rodeos he’s been in, so we’ll go with him.”
That same reasoning applies if Yates struggles. Understandably, the Texans have tried not to make Yates look over his shoulder by explaining that Delhomme wasn’t signed to supplant the rookie. But, surely, even Yates knows that, if he can’t get it done, Delhomme will be called upon to save the Texans’ season and, ultimately, Kubiak’s job.