Matt Leinart became the second Texans starting quarterback to be felled by a significant injury in two games, putting the team in dire straits as it attempts to reach the playoffs for the first time.
With Matt Schaub on injured reserve and Leinart likely to join him after evidently breaking his collarbone Sunday against the Jaguars, the Texans could head back to a free-agent QB pool that might as well be called The Island of Misfit Toys.
The Texanssigned former Jets clipboard holder Kellen Clemens after holding tryouts last week, so let's take a look at the other QBs who worked out, in descending order of interest if we were the GM in Houston:
Jeff Garcia: The four-time Pro Bowl pick is clinging to his NFL dreams at age 41. Though he hasn't started a game in three seasons, he had two solid seasons as a game manager with the Buccaneers in 2007 and '08. He has thrown 161 career touchdown passes, but he's perhaps best known for his run-ins with ex-49ers teammate Terrell Owens and his marriage to a Playboy Playmate.
Trent Edwards: He lost the Bills' starting QB job to Ryan Fitzpatrick last season, and he has thrown 26 touchdown passes and 30 interceptions in a career that also included brief stops in Jacksonville and Oakland. Although he's just 28, Edwards isn't married to a Playmate, which drops him here.
Brodie Croyle: If this is The Island Of Misfit Toys, Croyle is the choo-choo train with square wheels. In 10 starts for the Chiefs over five seasons, Croyle went 0-10. In the past month, Croyle, 28, has lost QB competitions to Clemens in Houston and Sage Rosenfels in Miami, which might be God's way of telling him something.
Chase Clement: A local guy who played college ball at Rice, Clement spent some time slinging the rock for the Las Vegas Locomotives of the UFL. Clement, 25, has never been associated with an NFL team. Your classic dark (pitch black and disorienting) horse.
Brett Favre: OK, Favre didn't work out for the Texans and he said Sunday night that he's not ready to play, but we had to mention the 900-pound, Wrangler-wearing gorilla in the room. As a precaution, Neil Rackers' last name should be removed from all No. 4 jerseys in Houston.
