Case Keenum: A look at his Houston Texans career

Aug 9, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Houston Texans quarterback

(7) against the Arizona Cardinals during a preseason game at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Case Keenum came to the Houston Texans as an undrafted rookie free free agent a couple seasons ago, but he left a small mark with the franchise before being released on Sunday afternoon.

For Keenum, he was one of just a handful of players to start a game for the Texans in franchise history, making eight starts last year, his only season of seeing action on the field for the team. He replaced Matt Schaub as the starting QB.

Keenum was released by the Texans because they traded for New England Patriots backup QB Ryan Mallett on Sunday for a seventh round pick.

Though the Texans had their worst record in franchise history with Keenum starting half of the games in ’13, not all of it was his fault as the Texans were 2-14 overall.

When Keenum made his first start for the Texans last season, it was much needed, and almost a win, with the Texans losing to the Kansas City Chiefs, 17-16 at Arrowhead Stadium. That stadium is one of the toughest places to play in the NFL for a visiting QB.

In his debut as a starter, Keenum against the Chiefs was 15-of-25 for 271 yards and one touchdown. He didn’t throw an interception in the debut.

Keenum completed 54.2 percent of his passes in ’13, and was 137-of-253 in the eight starts. He averaged 6.96 yards per competition, with his longest pass being 66 yards on Dec. 1 against the New England Patriots.

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With nine touchdown passes, three each came in games against the Indianapolis Colts on Nov. 3 and at the Arizona Cardinals on Nov. 10.

Though the results weren’t there in the win-loss column for Keenum and the Texans, I will say he was a spark plug the Texans needed at the time, and did pretty decent for all the mess that surrounded him last season, including the firing of a head coach.

Keenum never got a real chance to become the starting QB for the Texans under new head coach Bill O’Brien and that’s fine, but he will catch on with another team in the NFL, and we wish him the best of luck.