It was a topsy-turvy 2015 for Brian Hoyer.
But now he's set for his first-ever playoff start, and he's remaining even-keeled despite all that's happened.
"You go in and prepare the same way," Hoyer said. "The only thing that's different is now there is one less day to prepare."
Hoyer and the Texans capped off the regular season on Sunday at NRG Stadium with a win over the Jaguars. He completed 25-of-40 passes for 249 yards, with a touchdown and an interception. It came after he missed two starts because of a concussion he suffered in the second half of the loss to New England. Getting back on the field and helping guide the Texans to a win was crucial before the start of
the postseason.
"I don't think I wanted to come back off three weeks rest to play in the playoffs," Hoyer said. "That would be really tough. There's nothing that compares to playing in a game. So to get back out there, be with my teammates and play in an NFL game, I think it was huge to be able to get that under my belt."
Hoyer started nine games in 2015, and came off the bench in two others. He wound up completing 60.7 percent of his passes for 2,606 yards. He threw 19 touchdowns to seven interceptions and according to head coach Bill O'Brien, looked crisp on Wednesday.
"He's had a very solid year for us," O'Brien said. "He had a good practice today, so he's looking forward to the game."
Offensive coordinator George Godsey reeled off a list of things of things he'd like to see from Hoyer on Saturday when the Texans host the Chiefs, with 'efficiency' at the top of the list.
"We've got to be 100 percent ball security," Godsey said. "Any time you turn the ball over, whether you give them a short field or it's even just another opportunity for them to score. So protect the football, move the offense. Little bit better execution as far as the general offense and the false starts, everybody's a part of it, but I'd like to put it in the quarterback's hands."
Hoyer and the Texans kick off against Kansas City at 3:35 p.m. CT inside NRG Stadium this Saturday.
The Houston Texans roster in photos. (Updated 4/16/2021)
TE, Jordan Akins, #88
TE, Antony Auclair
DL, Auzoyah Alufohai, #98
DB, Cornell Armstrong, #30
DL, Ross Blacklock, #90
OL, Justin Britt
DB, Terrence Brooks
TE, Pharaoh Brown, #85
OL, Cohl Cabral, #72
OL, Marcus Cannon
WR, Randall Cobb, #18
DL, Maliek Collins
WR, Chris Conley
WR, Brandin Cooks, #13
WR, Isaiah Coulter, #82
WR, Keke Coutee, #16
DB, Keion Crossen, #35
LB, Zach Cunningham, #41
LB, Tae Davis
DL, Brandon Dunn, #92
LB, Duke Ejiofor, #53
WR, Alex Erickson
K, Ka'imi Fairbairn, #7
QB, Ryan Finley
OL, Hjalte Froholdt, #77
LB, Jonathan Greenard, #52
LB, Kamu Grugier-Hill
LB, Nate Hall, #48
DB, Vernon Hargreaves III, #26
OL, Charlie Heck, #67
RB, Dontrell Hilliard, #27
OL, Tytus Howard, #71
RB, Buddy Howell, #38
RB, Mark Ingram
TE, Ryan Izzo
LB, Jordan Jenkins
RB, David Johnson, #31
DL, Jaleel Johnson
DB, Lonnie Johnson Jr., #32
P, Cameron Johnston
DB, Desmond King
LB, Christian Kirksey
DL, Shaq Lawson
RB, Phillip Lindsay
LB, Jacob Martin, #54
OL, Justin McCray
LB, Whitney Mercilus, #59
DB, Terrance Mitchell
WR, Donte Moncrief
DB, A.J. Moore Jr., #33
WR, Chris Moore
DB, Eric Murray, #23
LB, Hardy Nickerson
DL, Charles Omenihu, #94
DB, Jonathan Owens, #36
LB, Kevin Pierre-Louis
RB, Scottie Phillips, #40
TE, Paul Quessenberry
DB, John Reid, #34
DB, Justin Reid, #20
DL, Derek Rivers
WR, Andre Roberts
DB, Bradley Roby, #21
OL, Max Scharping, #74
DB, Tremon Smith
OL, Jordan Steckler
OL, Lane Taylor
QB, Tyrod Taylor
DL, Vincent Taylor
LB, Joe Thomas
DB, Tavierre Thomas
OL, Cole Toner
OL, Laremy Tunsil, #78
DL, MeMarcus Walker
TE, Kahale Warring, #81
QB, Deshaun Watson, #4
LS, Jon Weeks #46
