Do the Texans Need Weeden anymore?

Aug 1, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans quarterback Brandon Weeden (5) drops back to pass downfield during Houston Texans training camp at Methodist Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 1, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans quarterback Brandon Weeden (5) drops back to pass downfield during Houston Texans training camp at Methodist Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports /
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Today we got the news that Tom Savage is the number two quarterback. Now the question becomes if Brandon Weeden will or should maintain a spot on the roster:

In the preseason opener against the San Francisco 49ers, Tom Savage looked excellent. He got the ball out quickly, was accurate with his passes and made a few tough throws. Obviously he won’t be named to the Hall of Fame for one preseason performance, but it was enough to get him named the Texans backup quarterback over Brandon Weeden.

Last year, the Texans brought in Weeden simply out of desperation. After the Cowboys had cut him, he remained unsigned until T.J. Yates went down and suddenly the Texans needed another quarterback. Weeden got the Texans a crucial win in Indianapolis and then won in his lone start at Tennessee.

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Obviously it’s not like Weeden is a world beater, but his experience was enough to land him a two year deal this offseason with the assumption of being the backup. But now with Savage being the backup, his roster spot is in question. Many teams only carry two quarterbacks these days, so Weeden can no longer be assured of a roster spot.

Should the Texans keep him? I say yes. You’re only paying him $2 million a year so it’s not going to cramp the cap to keep him. Let’s say for a minute that Brock Osweiler gets hurt and is out for the season after five games–what then?

Savage would start the rest of the way, and you’d have a backup that knows the system and has some starting experience if you keep Weeden. His career numbers are nothing spectacular but his QB rating has climbed each year he has been in the league, and overall he can be efficient, which is what the Texans would need a backup to be. Moreover, they can’t count on him being kept on the practice squad–some team will snap him up if the Texans put him there; I’m certain of it.

Will the Texans keep him? That remains a different story. It would not surprise me either way.