Houston Texans quarterback Brian Hoyer is gaining final clearance under the NFL's concussion protocol and is expected to start Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars, according to Texans reporter Aaron Wilson.
"He's in the last phase of evaluation," head coach Bill O'Brien said, via the Houston Chronicle. "So, if he clears this phase then he'll start the game on Sunday."
The Texans currently control their own destiny, as a win on Sunday will clinch a first-round home playoff game. Houston would need a ton of things to go wrong this weekend for the Indianapolis Colts to take the AFC South title, and Indianapolis would need nine games to go their way for that to happen.
Houston is currently set to play the Kansas City Chiefs in the current NFL playoff picture, but their matchup could change based on the results in the final week of the regular season. The Texans already lost backup quarterback TJ Yates with a torn ACL, but third-string quarterback Brandon Weeden led Houston to an impressive 34-6 win over the Titans this past weekend.
Weeden has played well in Hoyer's absence, but O'Brien will go with the quarterback that has led the team for a majority of the season. Hoyer is having a career year in Houston, throwing for 2,357 yards with a career-high 18 touchdowns to six interceptions. Houston has won two straight divisional games, and O'Brien will look for his team to head into the postseason with some momentum with a win on Sunday.
