The Houston Texans have made multiple quarterback changes this season, but it's still down to the same two the team started the preseason with: Brian Hoyer and Ryan Mallett. Hoyer won a battle between the two that spanned training camp and the preseason, but he was benched in just the first game -- after head coach Bill O'Brien told him he wouldn't be on a short leash -- after a poor performance.
Texans vs. Jaguars 2015 live stream: Time, TV schedule and how to watch online
It will be Brian Hoyer vs. Blake Bortles on Sunday. Will Hoyer keep his job?
The switch was made to Mallett, though he did get benched late in a game and was replaced by Hoyer. Despite that, Mallett started in Week 5, yet another loss for the Texans, and was benched again for Hoyer, who is now the starter heading into a Week 6 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
It’s been a mess, to say the least.
Hoyer has completed 62.1 percent of his passes for 780 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions. Mallett has completed 53.1 percent of his passes for 770 yards, three touchdowns and four interceptions. Hoyer is averaging 8.2 yards per throw while Mallet is averaging 5.2. Neither quarterback has been particularly good, but Hoyer’s stats have been better in limited time.
Hoyer’s task on Sunday: keep his job by beating the AFC South rival Jaguars.
The Jaguars are struggling about as much as the Texans, though aside from a humiliating 51-17 loss to the New England Patriots in Week 3, they've kept their games quite a bit closer. They have something approaching stability at the quarterback position in Blake Bortles. Bortles has completed 57.1 percent of his passes for 1,299 yards, 10 touchdowns and four interceptions.
Bortles have given them plenty of scoring opportunities, but he has struggled with his accuracy. His sub-par completion percentage and four interceptions have hurt the Jaguars plenty this season, and they are the kind of things the Jaguars need him to clean up if the team is going to find any success going forward.
For Gus Bradley's team, it's not about competing for a Super Bowl this year, but showing some kind of progression. Bradley has a lot of leeway with the Jaguars, and a lot of room to mess up without worrying about his job being on the line, but the team needs to look like there are some real bright spots at some point.
At the least, there have been some bright spots. Bortles is providing scoring production, rookie running back T.J. Yeldon is running well and the Jaguars are getting serious production out of Allen Hurns and Allen Robinson at the receiver position. Both of those players were big question marks coming into this season, but both are well on their way to 1,000-yard seasons.
Yeldon has 291 yards on the season and a per-carry average of 3.6 yards. He fits the mold of an every-down back and the Jaguars will want him to develop into a franchise running back. He’s having to fight hard for the yardage he gets, but he’s just waiting for a big breakout game. He might just get it against the Texans, a team that ranks No. 24 in the league in rush defense.
How to Watch
When: 1 p.m. ET
Where: EverBank Field, Jacksonville, Fla.
TV: CBS
Announcers: Tom McCarthy, Adam Archuleta
Online: NFL Game Pass
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