Jun 17, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans quarterback T.J. Yates (13) goes through drills during mini camp at Houston Methodist Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Richardson-USA TODAY Sports
On Tuesday, the Houston Texans released backup quarterback T.J. Yates, Ian Rapport of NFL.com reported.
Rapport Tweeted the following:
Yates was the quarterback for the Texans for their franchise’s first playoff win in 2011, replacing a then-injured Matt Schaub.
Yates lost his roster spot following OTAs the past three weeks, with the Texans deciding to keep Case Keenum and Tom Savage, along with Ryan Fitzpatrick, on the roster.
I think this is the best decision for the Texans, as Yates was, of the four QBs, No. 4 on the roster.
Do I believe Yates will end up with another team in a reserve role? Yes.
Yates played in parts of three games last season, no starts, with zero touchdown passes and two interceptions. He passed for 113 yards.
For his three years as a Texans QB, Yates was 101-of-166 for 1,100 yards, averaging 6.6 yards per competition. He threw three touchdown passes (all in 2011) and six interceptions the past three seasons in 13 regular-season games.
Yates’ playoff win (which the Texans won 20-19) came against the Cincinnati Bengals in a 2011 AFC Wild Card game in Cincinnati.
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The now-former Texans QB will be remembered for a final drive the Texans made in the ’11 Wild Card game, as the Associated Press wrote that day (via USA Today):
"“Houston Texans rookie quarterback T.J. Yates led a game-winning touchdown drive in a 20-19 win over the Bengals in Cincinnati. With savvy and a scramble, he pulled it off. Yates led the biggest drive in Texans history on Sunday, one that put them in the end zone and the playoffs. He threw a 6-yard touchdown pass with 2 seconds left for a 20-19 victory.”"
The Texans really had no choice but to release Yates. Fitzpatrick brings the veteran experience, Keenum started half the games last season and still might have untapped potential and Savage could be groomed to be a future starter of this team.