Texans coach Bill O’Brien said Sunday that he needed to watch film of the team’s loss to the Falcons before deciding whether Ryan Mallett or Brian Hoyer would get the start against the Colts on Thursday night.
O’Brien must have had a movie night for himself on Sunday because he’s made the call. The Texans will stick with Mallett, who has started the last three games after replacing Hoyer in Week One. While O’Brien said that there are things Mallett “needs to do better,” the quick turnaround to Thursday wound up keeping him in the lineup.
“Brian did a good job, but being on a short week, it’s important to stay with Ryan right now,” O’Brien said.
O’Brien hasn’t had a problem making in-game switches at quarterback, so Hoyer may see the field if Mallett continues to play the way he’s played so far this season. A bigger problem has been identifying and acquiring a starting quarterback you’re willing to stick with before the start of the season, something that will have to change in Houston for the 2016 season.