The Houston Texans will be making a change at quarterback when they come out of their bye in Week 11 against the Cleveland Browns. Head coach Bill O’Brien announced on Wednesday that Ryan Fitzpatrick is being benched in favor of Ryan Mallett.
“This might be the thing that helps our team,” O’Brien said of the decision, via Brian T. Smith of The Houston Chronicle. “I might be wrong.”
Mallett studied under Tom Brady for several years in New England, and many have wondered if he has what it takes to be a starting quarterback in the NFL.
“We are not asking him to go out there and be Tom Brady,” O’Brien said. “We’re asking him to be Ryan Mallett.”
Fitzpatrick has struggled to execute in recent weeks, particularly in the red zone. After the Texans lost to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Mallett tweeted that he is patiently waiting for his chance. With the Texans having lost four of their last five, this is as good a time as any for O’Brien to give Mallett a shot.
How will Andre Johnson feel about starting about having to catch passes from a guy who is making his first ever NFL start? Probably a little something like this.
