The Texans may as well give their rookie quarterback a shot at the gig before handing it over to a re-tread.
(John Raoux – AP)
The Houston Texans are in an interesting spot. Their starting quarterback, Matt Schaub, is out for the season. His backup, Matt Leinart, only lasted less than quarters before sustaining a season-ending injury of his own.

At 8-3, Houston most likely only has to win two out of their five remaining games to clinch the first playoff berth in franchise history.

However, their new starting quarterback is a rookie named T.J. Yates.  Promising proposition? Not so much.

But what are their other options? The Texans just signed 36-year-old Jake “The Mistake” Delhomme, who in his last truly meaningful game had six (yes, six!) turnovers in a playoff loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Delhomme beat out 41-year-old Jeff Garcia (three years removed from NFL) for the gig.

But it gets worse. Their current backup, Kellen Clemens (career 59.7 passer rating), is a perpetual non-starter. Remember, if Brett Favre-to-the-Jets never happened in 2008, Clemens was on pace to lose the starting quarterback battle to a guy named Brett Ratliff.

Speaking of Brett Favre… his name is getting tossed out there, despite the fact he hasn’t picked up a football in months.

So my question is this: Why all the scrambling? Yes, T.J. Yates is Houston’s new starter, but didn’t they just draft him in the fifth round this past year? If they never wanted to play him in the first place, why even draft him? Plus, with Houston’s running attack (currently third in the NFL in yards per game), the offense will be catered to the conservative side (even if Leinart never got hurt) anyway.

Isn’t it better to go with a complete unknown than an already-known-to-be-shaky re-tread? Why waste time on a Delhomme or Clemens when they can find out right now what they have in the 24-year-old Yates?

You never know — he could be the next Tom Brady. Conversely, he could also be a Curtis Painter, but at least Houston will know for sure in the next few weeks.

At least they didn’t call Daunte Culpepper.

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Derrick Mason is not much like Andre Johnson stylistically. But then how many receivers have Johnson’ts combination of precision, physicality and speed?

The Houston Texans new receiver’s game is based on precision and reliability. Mason will be at the right place at the right time, he’ll help move the chains and he’ll bounce up from a tackle after a conversion catch and let defenders know all about it.

That the Texans dealt the Jets a conditional draft pick for the veteran receiver says something for Houston. John McClain of The Houston Chronicle and Mark Berman of Fox in Houston initially reported the trade. Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork reports the conditional pick is a seventh-rounder.

The Texans aren’t content to stand still heading into what could be two more games without Johnson, who’s recovering from a hamstring injury suffered Oct. 2 against the Steelers and a subsequent surgery.

Houston plays Sunday in Baltimore and Oct. 23 in Nashville against the Titans in a crucial AFC South game. Mason, who chose the Jets as a free agent during the offseason but quickly fell out of favor, should be able to help as a top-three option during those games. Beyond that I’d expect he’ll be one of four in the rotation with Johnson, Walter and Jacoby Jones.

Coaches and quarterback Matt Schaub will work a crash course with Mason starting Wednesday.

Against the Ravens, he figures to play in at least some specific scenarios and/or packages. He certainly won’t struggle with the Baltimore coverages, as he played the past six seasons with the Ravens before he was released over the summer after the NFL lockout ended. As a member of the Jets, he caught two passes for 37 yards against the Ravens in Week 4.

In a stretch in which the Texans have temporarily lost Johnson and lost defensive end Mario Williams (pectoral tear) for the season while losing a game with a bad ending to the Oakland Raiders, the Texans have found some veteran help.

Mason can be a bit of a clubhouse lawyer — and the suspicion is that’s what prompted the Jets to give up on the relationship so quickly. But he will add some game-day swagger — and even fury — to the Texans. It’s a team that will welcome more of those ingredients.

Read More: Steve Slaton (RB – HOU), Miami Dolphins, Houston Texans

The Houston Texans waived RB Steve Slaton on Tuesday and he didn’t make it all the way through the waiver wire as the Miami Dolphins claimed him, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Some suggested the Arizona Cardinals would be interested but it was the Dolphins who got him.

Slaton was originally a 2008 third round pick by the Texans and quickly established himself as a solid running back by going for over 1,200 yards and 10 total touchdowns in his first season. That was the high point of Slaton’s career and things quickly unraveled after that.

He was never again the feature back due to a combination of injuries and fumbling problems, as well as the Texans picking up Arian Foster and Ben Tate.

Slaton joins a Dolphins roster that includes Reggie Bush so it’ll be interesting to see how they plan to incorporate him into the gameplan.

Check out SB Nation’s The Phinsider to see what Dolphins fans are saying about the move.