The Texans lost more than just another game in Indianapolis. Houston lost both its starting quarterback, Ryan Fitzpatrick, and rookie backup Tom Savage in the course of three hours.
"(Fitzpatrick) suffered a broken tibia yesterday on that play," head coach Bill O'Brien said in Monday's press conference. "(He) had surgery this morning and it went well but obviously, he'll be placed on injured reserve. Tom Savage will be out for the Baltimore game, maybe out for more than that, but will definitely be out for the Baltimore game."
Fitzpatrick broke his tibia on a two-yard scramble early in the second quarter of the Texans 17-10 loss in Indianapolis. Savage came in relief and finished the remainder of the game. He was banged up on the second-to-last play of the game. O'Brien did not disclose the nature of Savage's injury.
Fitzpatrick is the second Texans quarterback placed on injured reserve this season. Ryan Mallett was sent to IR after just two starts against Cleveland and Cincinnati.
The Texans will now start a third different quarterback this season in Week 16 against the Baltimore Ravens, but O'Brien has yet to announce who that will be. The team signed last year's eight-game starter, Case Keenum, and also have Thad Lewis on the 53-man roster.
"I've been in a lot of situations, but this is one where we've lost some guys here with Mallett, Fitz (Fitzpatrick) and then Tom," O'Brien said. "That's professional football and the next guy's got to step up whether that's Case or Thad. We've got confidence that one of those guys, when we make the decision, those guys will step up and play well."
Fitzpatrick finished the season with 2,483 passing yards, 17 touchdowns, eight interceptions, and an average passer rating of 95.3 through 12 games. He also rushed for two touchdowns and 184 yards on 50 carries.
