With no Schaub or Leinart...What Will the Houston Texans do?

Matt Leinart on the sideline of the Texan's 20-13 victory over Jacksonville. AP

When Matt Schaub went down with a season-ending foot injury, many USC and Houston Texan fans hoped for the resurgence of quarterback Matt Leinart. After coming off their bye week, the AFC South leading Texans faced the struggling Jacksonville Jaguars praying that backup QB Matt Leinart can carry the team to their first playoff appearance in franchise history. Leinart started the game with promise, completing 10 of 13 passes for 67 yards and one touchdown. His first start since 2009 lasted less than two quarters, as he fractured his collarbone in the second quarter. The Texans managed to pull out a 20 to 13 victory with North Carolina standout T.J. Yates under center. With Yates being the best option at QB remaining on the Texan's roster, the team will have to look elsewhere in a slim market for available quarterbacks. If the team wants to maintain their 2 game lead over division rival Tennessee, they need to find an experienced QB that can take some of the load off running backs Arian Foster and Ben Tate. Yates will likely be the starter this upcoming week against the surging Atlanta Falcons but the team will need to sign a QB and get him on the practice field and in the playbook this week. Rumors immediately spread that the team will contact retired hall of fame QB Brett Favre. That is unlikely, and the other options currently on the market do not give Houston fans much hope. The team plans to work out retired quarterback Jake Delhomme and journeyman Jeff Garcia. When Schaub went down, the team signed former Jet's QB Kellen Clemens to serve as a backup and that is where he will likely remain. Besides Favre, Delhomme, Garcia and Clemens other possible options include Marc Bulger, Chris Simms, Sage Rosenfels, Patrick Ramsey, Charlie Frye and Troy Smith. The 34 year old Bulger has not started a game since 2009, but is healthy and could learn and fit into the Texan's system quickly. Simms has struggled to find a home but showed proved himself in 2005 with his short stint as the Tampa Bay quarterback. Rosenfels knows the Texan's offense and would probably be the best fit if he can stay healthy. As of now, Houston is not ruling anyone out and it looks like T.J. Yates will have to take on an unexpected load. If he performs like he did at North Carolina, the Texans will be in the playoffs, but if he folds under pressure they will be forced to bring in a veteran and put an even bigger load on the back's of Arian Foster and Ben Tate.