Texans Coach Bill O'Brien names Brian Hoyer starting QB

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Brian Hoyer will be the Texans starting quarterback this season, Coach Bill O'Brien announced today.

Hoyer, 29, started Houston's preseason opener earlier this month against San Francisco, while Ryan Mallett, 27, started Saturday's game against Denver. Neither quarterback was able to get the Texans into the end zone against the Broncos.

"I think at this point there's definitely things that need to be corrected and get fixed," Hoyer said after Saturday's game. "But I don't feel poorly about where I'm at. I don't know if I'd say I feel great. I think we have a long way to go as an entire offensive unit, myself included."

Hoyer and Mallett both have served as backups to Patriots quarterback Tom Brady at one point in their respective careers.

The timing of the decision to go with Hoyer not only makes sense, it's required. NFL starting QBs take nearly all of the practice reps. Hoyer needs those from here on out to get ready for the regular season opener.

"This is the third game of the preseason where we want to get into more of a regular season routine and treat it as such, as a regular season game so I felt it was very important to give Brian a chance to run our offense all week," said O'Brien.

Those plays in practice are even more critical in a Texans offense that gives the QB and his receivers freedom to make adjustments on the fly. Hoyer will get the work and time he needs to fine tune that relationship ahead of the regular season opener on September 13th.

Mallett started two games last season, his first in Houston, before suffering a pectoral injury and missing the rest of the year.

Hoyer started 13 games for the Cleveland Browns last season before signing with the Texans in the off season. Mallett started two games for Houston last season before having season-ending surgery for a torn pectoral muscle.