Texans quarterback situation uncertain because of injuries

With Houston’s top two quarterbacks out, Weeden was pressed into service late in the first half Sunday, and the 32-year-old responded by giving the Texans their first win ever on the Colts’ home turf.

Yet Indy can still claim its third straight division title with two wins and two losses by Houston (7-7), or through other more complicated scenarios, all of which require one thing – getting a little luck along the way.

But Houston didn’t let the Colts’ offense get started in the second half. After being knocked out of each of the last three games with back, shoulder, neck and rib injuries, the three-time Pro Bowler said he hurt his jaw in Sunday’s 16-10 loss to Houston – or as Pagano described it, Hasselbeck is beat up from the feet up.

John McClain of the Houston Chronicle first reported the injury.

The battle of backup quarterbacks didn’t earn any style points. The Colts, a popular preseason Super Bowl pick, are suddenly a long shot to make the playoffs.

Just like for much of the past two months, the ground game didn’t get going. The Colts will likely have one of their best draft positions in years when that time comes, which could be invaluable for infusing a mediocre roster. “Call me naïve, but there’s still a chance”.

“It was just a tough, tough day”, Hasselbeck said.

Pagano was asked if Luck still could play before the season ends. And it was lost when the Colts allowed a 10-point lead against the Jaguars to unfathomably turn into a 51-16 loss in Week 14. We didn’t get it done.

The Texans took a 13-10 lead with 10:36 remaining on Weeden’s 8-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jaelen Strong, capping a 10-play, 90-yard drive that included a 22-yard pass interference penalty against Colts’ free safety Dwight Lowery and Weeden’s 28-yard completion to wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. Yates has a torn ACL in his left knee and is out for the season, coach Bill O’Brien said Monday. He still has not been cleared to compete during the team portion of practices, but if he is cleared before the end of the season, Pagano said Luck would play. (Regular starter Brian Hoyer was already out with a concussion.) And in the most important game of the Texans’ season, Weeden came through. The short five-play, 24-yard drive was set up by a 19-yard punt return by Quan Bray.

Houston had two turnovers and bad field position in the first half, but all the Colts managed was an 11-yard TD pass from Hasselbeck to Moncrief and a 29-yard field goal from Adam Vinatieri for a 10-0 lead.

ON THE RUN: Despite losing a fumble in the first half, Alfred Blue gave the Texans balance. Houston had 107 first-half rushing yards, 73 more than Indianapolis. With Hoyer still sidelined, is it possible that Weeden could be the Texans’ starting quarterback for the remainder of the season? His replacement, T.J. Yates, left with 1:14 to go in the first half because of an injured left knee. Indianapolis entered having beaten Houston six consecutive times, including a 27-20 victory on October 8 in Houston.