Texans coach Gary Kubiak answered the first question simply and directly.
“Yes, he is,” Kubiak replied when asked if Matt Schaub was still his starting quarterback.
But implying that the questions are over would be far from accurate.
Kubiak pulled Schaub for the first time since he was acquired last night, late in a 34-3 drubbing at the hands of the 49ers. Schaub threw three interceptions, extending his streak to four games with an interception returned for a touchdown.
So for T.J. Yates to get mop-up duty (3-of-5, 15 yards) might have meant nothing, but it might mean more.
“I think it was time for him [Yates] to get some reps,” Kubiak said, via Tania Ganguli of ESPN.com. “Obviously, Matt took some hits and made some mistakes. And I just told him I was going to put T.J. in the game — and we’re going to go from there and talk about it after the game or throughout the course of the week and see where we’re at.”
The location between the ears of Schaub is his primary concern, as the quarterback was visibly shaken.
“Obviously, it’s tough right now,” he said. “After what we’ve been through tonight, going back to last weekend and even the week before. I am very confident in my ability and everyone in this locker room.”
Schaub has been an average-to-slightly-above-average quarterback on a team that’s capable of being more than that. Getting him back from his current wretched level is going to be key for the Texans if they want to even get back to average.