Texans Training Camp Preview Profile: Ryan Fitzpatrick

Dec 29, 2013; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Titans quarterback

(4) passes against Houston Texans outside linebacker

(59) and Houston outside linebacker

(58) during the first half at LP Field. Mandatory Credit:

-USA TODAY Sports

(Everyday in the month of July the Toro Times will profile players on the offense and defense of the Houston Texans as training camp nears).

Fans of the Houston Texans, as of now Ryan Fitzpatrick is your starting quarterback and it looks like it will stay that way unless he plays poorly enough to for head coach Bill O’ Brien to make a change at the position.

Last season with the Tennessee Titans, Fitzpatrick played in 11 games (nine starts) where he was 217-of-350 for 2,454 yards with 14 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

He had 32 competitions of 20-plus yards and seven competitions of 40-plus yards with a QB Rating of 82.0.

Since the 2008 season the Harvard University alum has played in at least 10 games at QB with the Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo Bills and the Titans.

For his career Fitzpatrick has passed for 16,790 yards and 106 touchdowns.

But why was he already named the starting QB for the Texans this season even before training camp?

Here is what CBS Sports quoted O’Brien when he announced that Fitzpatrick was going to be the starting QB during the June mini-camp:

"“He’s a guy that’s earned the job and the other three guys are working hard and battling it out for number two. All four of them have put in a lot of good work, but at the end of the day Ryan Fitzpatrick is our starter. He’s had a good offseason.”"

The official Texans site quoted O’Brien on Fitzpatrick as well:

"“He earned it with his preparation,” O’Brien said. “He earned it with his accuracy. He earned it with his command at the line of scrimmage.”"

Fitzpatrick has had some success against Houston. Last season on Dec. 29 Fitzpatrick was 15-of-24 for 116 yards and one interception. He threw no touchdowns but the Titans did finish with the win, defeating the Texans, 16-10.

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On Nov. 4, 2012 he also faced the Texans as the starting QB of the Bills, a game where the Bills lost, 21-9. In that game, Fitzpatrick was 25-of-38 for 239 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions.

In 2009 Fitzpatrick also played against the Texans, as this was also a loss by a score of 31-10. In that game, Fitzpatrick was 15-of-23 for 117 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions.

Before the ’09 game Fitzpatrick faced the Texans in ’05 and ’08 where in ’05 he was 19-of-30 for 310 yards with three touchdowns and one interception in his lone win against the Texans. In ’08, the newest Texans QB as a member of the Bengals was 20-of-32 for 155 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions.

It is safe to say Fitzpatrick does have a history with the Texans, not a very productive one (except one game nine years ago), so it will be interesting to see what eventually occurs with Fitzpatrick as the Texans starting QB. Backing up Fitzpatrick will be Case Keenum and rookie Tom Savage.

My honest guess is he won’t be the starting QB by the time the midway point of the season arrives, but I could be wrong. The Texans took the safe route this offseason knowing what they are getting with Fitzpatrick, and now it will be time to see if he can live up to the expectations of being the newest starting QB of the Texans.

Give us your thoughts on Fitzpatrick as the starting QB.