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Hours after first-year Texans coach Bill O'Brien named veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick the starter, the team released backup T.J. Yates, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Yates, the team's 2011 fifth-round pick, leaves Houston tied for most playoff victories in franchise history. Filling in for an injured Matt Schaub, Yates beat the Bengals in a January 2012 post-season game. But last season, as Schaub struggled, then-coach Gary Kubiak turned to Case Keenum, and not Yates, who remained the odd man out this spring under O'Brien.
I imagine TJ Yates' agent's first call will be to Baltimore to see if the Ravens and OC Gary Kubiak are interested in them being reunited.
— John McClain (@McClain_on_NFL) June 17, 2014
Yates, 27, started five games as a rookie but has made just seven appearances since. In three seasons, he completed 61 percent of his passes for 1,100 yards, three touchdowns and six interceptions.
With Fitzpatrick penciled in atop the depth chart, Keenum and rookie fourth-rounder Tom Savage will battle for backup duties.
