In the last 11 games the Houston Texans have faced a team starting a rookie quarterback, those teams are 1-10.
Houston can make that 1-11 on Sunday, when they face the Jacksonville Jaguars led by rookie Gardner Minshew, or the Washington State product can make it 2-10.
A sixth-round pick, Minshew was thrown into the driver’s seat in the first quarter of the Jaguars’ 40-26 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs Week 1 after Nick Foles suffered a broken collarbone. Filling in for Foles, Minshew threw 22 for 25 for 275 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception.
Formerly an Alabama graduate assistant hopeful, Minshew showed he can run an NFL offense against Kansas City, despite coming off the bench. Coach Bill O’Brien recognizes that.
“I think when you watch Gardner, I think he’s pretty in tune to what’s going on,” O’Brien told reporters Wednesday. “He’s smart with the ball, makes good decisions. I see him as a guy that’s pretty wise beyond his years relative to his experience.”
Minshew played under the Mike Leach Air Raid at Washington State and thrived, finishing second in the FBS in passing yards (4,477) and fifth in touchdowns (38).
Leach’s offense, known for its ability to develop composed quarterbacks, trained Minshew well enough to play well in a surprising NFL debut and scare O’Brien a little bit leading up to Sunday.
“He played good against the Chiefs, so that’s a big challenge for us,” O’Brien said.
The Chiefs were able to come away with the win, and the Texans are hoping to do so as well. For each side, their AFC South six-game slate kicks off, and both teams are entering the bout with an 0-1 record they hope doesn’t cascade into an 0-2 start. The Texans have lost their last two home openers with the Jaguars responsible for the start of that streak in 2017. Sunday, Houston seeks to end it against the same Jaguars and their rookie quarterback.
