The Houston Texans have a new looking quarterback rotation which the team hopes push them in a better direction in 2015. With veterans like Ryan Fitzpatrick out alongside Andre Johnson, it is a bit of a new regime for the franchise in head coach Bill O'Brien's second year with the team. After re-signing Ryan Mallett and bringing on Brian Hoyer, the Texans have a quarterback battle brewing for the new season.
According to the Houston Chronicle, both Hoyer and Mallett saw reps with the first-team offense during offseason practices, something that is expected to continue in the near future. Mallett is returning for his first full season in O'Brien's offense while Hoyer has experience with the system after the two worked together in New England. According to Hoyer, he is getting "back on the bike" with the offensive plan and hopes to compete as a starter in the coming year.
"It's not new - for me, it's kind of just getting back on the bike," Hoyer said, via the team's website. "You learn to ride a bike and whether you don't ride it for a year or two, you can pick it up pretty quickly. There's some adjustments, especially with [George] Godsey being the offensive coordinator. It's been a great three weeks so far of getting re-acclimated and learning the nuances that he's kind of put his own spin on."
O'Brien has not named a starting quarterback for 2015. Hoyer and Mallett join second-year pro Tom Savage who appears to have no chance of contending for the job. Hoyer made it clear during his free agency run that he was only signing with a team that gave him the best chance at being a starter in the coming year, so he must feel the Texans will give him an opportunity.
Houston has new weapons to work with. Gone is Johnson, but Jaelen Strong arrives with the intentions of being a starter. He did not make a great first impression on O'Brien. The head coach told the Houston Chronicle that Strong did not come to camp in the best shape and he needs to improve if he is going to start alongside DeAndre Hopkins. He joins the newly signed Cecil Shorts for the starting rotation. Meanwhile, Kenny Hilliard arrives to eventually replace Arian Foster in the coming season.