Texans starting quarterback Brian Hoyer remained in the NFL concussion protocol Monday, the Houston Chronicle reported, citing an unidentified source not authorized to speak publicly, and backup T.J. Yates is preparing for his second start this season Sunday against the Colts in a key AFC South game.
In addition to suffering his second concussion this season, Hoyer also suffered a neck strain in Sunday's loss to the Patriots, ESPN.com reported.
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Hoyer suffered the fifth concussion of his life and, visibly shaken, was taken to the locker room for examination. He didn't return to the game and won't be allowed to practice or play until he passes a mandatory baseline neurological exam this week.
After rallying Houston past the Bengals in Week 10 when Hoyer was forced out because of a concussion resulting in memory loss, Yates started the next week in a victory against the Jets.
“I’m just going to prepare like I always do every single week and just get ready to play, if that needs to be,” Yates said Monday in the Texans’ locker room. “I hope Brian is OK, I hope he’s doing all right, but I’ll be ready to play.”
Yates completed 1 of 2 passes for 4 yards against New England. He has completed 22 of 47 passes for 302 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions this season.
The Texans and Colts are tied at 6-7 atop the AFC South, and, if it's possible, Indianapolis may be in a tougher quarterback spot than Houston.
The Colts aren't optimistic that Andrew Luck (lacerated kidney) will be ready to play this week, and the team was forced to turn to No. 3 QB Charlie Whitehurst in Sunday's blowout loss to the Jaguars when Luck's backup, Matt Hasselbeck, 40, went out with shoulder and neck injuries in last week's loss at Pittsburgh.
The Colts saw their NFL-record streak of 16 wins against division opponents snapped as they lost their first AFC South game in three years.
