The Houston Texans will be down to their fourth-string quarterback Sunday against the Ravens.
The Texans announced on Monday afternoon that starter Ryan Fitzpatrick had surgery that morning to repair his broken leg. Rookie Tom Savage, who replaced Fitzpatrick in Indianapolis on Sunday, suffered a knee injury on the next-to-last play of the game and has been ruled out for Sunday's game.
Top quarterback Ryan Mallett tore a pectoral muscle on Nov. 23. The Texans have lost three quarterbacks in the past four weeks.
That means either Case Keenum or Thad Lewis will start for the Texans against the Ravens on Sunday, and the Ravens won't be able to focus on just one quarterback in their preparations.
"We'll prepare for their system and their scheme," Head Coach John Harbaugh said.
"We'll try to anticipate as best we can how we think they'll attack us, scheme-wise and philosophically how they'll approach the game. We'll try to gear our game plan and our reps accordingly, as best we can. Who plays quarterback is definitely part of that. We'll be looking into that."
Houston signed Keenum, who started eight games for the Texans last year, off the Rams' practice squad on Monday. The second-year professional is headed back to the team that gave him his start.
Keenum lost all eight of those games, including seven under the watchful eye of current Ravens Offensive Coordinator Gary Kubiak. Keenum averaged 220 passing yards per game and threw nine touchdowns to six interceptions. He had a quarterback rating of 78.2.
Lewis last played in a game with the Buffalo Bills in Week 17 last year.
Lewis started five games with the Bills and averaged 182 passing yards and threw four touchdowns to three interceptions. He also ran 24 times for 52 yards and a score. Lewis has bounced between four teams during his five NFL seasons.
"We know these guys," Harbaugh said. "We've seen them in the league. We'll watch everything they've done, tape wise. Those guys have been around."
The Ravens will also have the advantage of having Kubiak when preparing for the Texans. While the scheme has changed under new Head Coach Bill O'Brien, Kubiak knows many of Houston's players, including Keenum, and can help Defensive Coordinator Dean Pees this week.
"That's always a resource," Harbaugh said. "We'll try to use everything we have and every bit of information we can get like we always do."
