Osweiler to Start for Texans Against Raiders; Wilfork is Considering Retirement
HOUSTON (AP) — Brock Osweiler will start at quarterback for the Houston Texans on Saturday in their wild-card game against the Oakland Raiders.
Coach Bill O'Brien announced the decision on Tuesday with Tom Savage, who had started the past two games, still recovering from a concussion he suffered on Sunday.
Osweiler started the first 14 games this season before being benched on Dec. 18 against Jacksonville after throwing interceptions on consecutive drives in the second quarter.
But Osweiler got another chance after Savage got a concussion early in the second quarter of a loss to Tennessee on Sunday.
Osweiler had struggled with inconsistency and turnovers before being benched, but was better on Sunday when he threw for 253 yards and a touchdown and ran for another score.
This game will be an opportunity for Osweiler to redeem himself after failing to live up to expectations in his first season in Houston after signing a $72 million contract in the offseason.
Osweiler has thrown for 2,957 yards with 15 touchdowns and 16 interceptions this season. This will be his first postseason start after he was benched in favor of Peyton Manning before the playoffs last season with the Denver Broncos.
Houston's Wilfork contemplating retirement after season
HOUSTON (AP) — Houston veteran nose tackle Vince Wilfork is considering retirement after this season.
The 35-year-old Wilfork says: "I've been thinking about it. I'm not saying I will do it, and I'm not saying that I won't do it. But it's definitely not off the table."
Wilfork, in his 13th NFL season, has started 15 games this season for Houston. He is in his second year with the Texans after spending his first 11 years with the Patriots, where he won two Super Bowls.
Coach Bill O'Brien was caught off-guard when told Wilfork was contemplating retirement, saying: "Wow ... he hasn't spoken to me about that."
He then raved about Wilfork's work in Houston and his career overall. O'Brien says: "To play nose tackle in this game at such a high level for that many years, to me it's incredible. (In) those positions there is physical, violent contact on every play."
The Texans host Oakland on Saturday in a wild-card playoff game.
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