Notes: Jaguars at Texans

“Jadeveon probably will not play on Sunday”, head coach Bill O’Brien said on Thursday afternoon.

Texans quarterback Brian Hoyer has cleared concussion protocol and will start in Week 17 against the Jaguars, the team announced Wednesday. The Texans are nearly assured of completing the task regardless of Sunday’s outcome, with Indianapolis needing to defeat Tennessee and receive help from several other teams to advance on a strength of victory tiebreaker if Houston loses.

It has been an up and down season for the 30-year-old as he was the initial starter to begin the Texans’ new campaign, lost the job to Ryan Mallett after their opening game, but got it back in the middle of the season.

The Texans are looking for the third playoff trip in franchise history after winning the division in 2011 and 2012. If Hoyer can’t start, Brandon Weeden likely will make his second consecutive start for the Texans. The Jaguars would love to end their two-game skid – and disappointing season – by helping dash Houston’s playoff aspirations.

Bortles is the real deal: Any questions about whether or not Blake Bortles is the long term solution at quarterback have been answered.

“I think for me, I didn’t take it lightly”, Hoyer said. “I didn’t even know I was behind Tom Brady until somebody told me”. Defensively, Houston is allowing 20.5 points and 316.5 yards per game.

The top overall draft pick in 2014 has been hampered by injuries since he was selected by the Texans. Linebacker Jadeveon Clowney (foot) is the only player on the active roster who is listed as doubtful for Sunday’s big home finale against the Jags.

“It’s evident to see how far we’ve come in many aspects of our game, and Gus deserves a lot of credit for that progress”, Khan said in a statement. Jaguars leading rusher T.J. Moore was benched earlier in the season and hasn’t played since Week 7, while Shorts has missed four games this season with injuries.