With Ryan Mallett on the injured reserve, the Texans have a new man under center in Ryan Fitzpatrick.
"Fitz will be our starting quarterback on Sunday," head coach Bill O'Brien said. "We'll figure out who the second quarterback is throughout the week here. It's going to be Tom Savage or Thaddeus Lewis."
Despite the elevation, Fitzpatrick's not changing how he prepares.
"Just going about my business like I always do in terms of preparing and getting myself ready, getting
View a photo gallery of the Texans practice on 11/26.
the guys ready, going out there in practice and trying to get better every day and showing up on Sundays," Fitzpatrick said on Wednesday.
Center Chris Myers said he and the team are confident in Fitzpatrick.
"He's the guy that's in the starting role right now and he's had a lot of experience in his career," Myers said. "Obviously he proved what he can do early in the season."
The Texans were 4-5 in games Fitzpatrick started this season, and he's thrown 11 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Mallett took over as the starter for the previous two games against Cleveland and Cincinnati. Another crack at playing time is welcomed by Fitzpatrick.
"Something was taken away from me and I didn't know if I'd get a chance to go out there and play again," Fitzpatrick said. "Renewed sense of excitement and energy or whatever it is."
The team signed the fourth-year veteran Lewis on Wednesday. He played collegiately at Duke, and has started six games the last two seasons. In 2012 he was with Cleveland, where he started for the Browns in a loss at Pittsburgh. Lewis won a pair of games as the starter in Buffalo last year, but lost three others. The Texans will practice on Thursday and Friday before hosting the Titans on Sunday at NRG Stadium.
