Houston Texans backup quarterback Matt Leinart finally had a chance to get his NFL career on track with his first start in two years on Sunday. But Leinart and the Texans' bad luck continued when he broke his collarbone late in the first half.
Leinart will have season-ending surgery, making him the second Texan quarterback to suffer a season-ending injury in two weeks (Matt Schaub was placed on injured reserve last week after requiring surgery on his right foot). But Leinart's remaining positive despite the unfortunate ordeal.
"Everything that's happened to me, this was a great opportunity," Leinart said, according to the Los Angeles Times. "It's unfortunate, but I'm not going to give up. It's not my nature."
The former USC quarterback won the Heisman Trophy and led the Trojans to a BCS national championship in 2004, but he's had little success in the NFL. He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals and became the starter in 2007. He was eventually released by the Cardinals in 2010 and signed with the Texans two days later.
Last week, after Schaub's injury, the Texans worked out Kellen Clemens, Jeff Garcia, Trent Edwards, Brodie Croyle and Chase Clement. The Texans signed Clemens but are in the market again after Leinart's injury.
Third-string rookie quarterback T.J. Yates, who finished Sunday's game, will now assume the starting role, says coach Gary Kubiak.
"We will bring another guy in," Kubiak said. "We've got some options. I don't know who that's going to be right now. I'm not ruling out anyone or confirming anyone. We're looking for experience, somebody who's been in a few rodeos. I have to stay focused on T.J. and Atlanta. It's T.J.'s job. It's his opportunity."
The Texans currently sit at 8-3 and are the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
