Texans owner: Brock Osweiler is ‘still basically a rookie’

Brock Osweiler has been in the NFL for more than four years now and has appeared in 29 games, but Houston Texans owner Bob McNair believes the quarterback has struggled this season because he is essentially a rookie.

After Osweiler threw yet another interception (his ninth of the year) in a win over the Detroit Lions Sunday, McNair tried to explain away the poor play of a player he gave $37 million guaranteed to.

“He’s still basically a rookie,” McNair said, per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. “He’s going to make some mistakes, but he shows that he has the talent, he has the ability and has the leadership that the team has confidence in him.”

Osweiler had one of his better games of the year against Detroit, and that isn’t saying much. He completed a season-high 69 percent of his passes and threw for just 186 yards, a touchdown and the pick.

“I thought Brock had a much improved game,” McNair said. “I think there was a little miscommunication on that one interception. I don’t put that all on him. That was both of them. He made a lot of good throws. I think he’s going to continue to get better.”

The Texans are now 5-3 despite Osweiler’s mediocre — at best — play. The 25-year-old now has 20 touchdown passes and 15 interceptions in his career, which is a ratio that will need to improve if he wants to remain a starting quarterback in the NFL.

Osweiler has not done himself many favors with the way he reacts to criticism, but Texans coach Bill O’Brien says the former Arizona State star is not in danger of losing his job. Why would he be? He’s just a rookie, after all.