Yates completed seven of 16 passes for 83 yards, one touchdown and one interception while adding an 11-yard scramble and losing one of three fumbles in Monday's 34-6 loss to Pittsburgh.

Analysis: Yates gifted his opponents a Christmas victory with this atrocious performance, also taking six sacks and exiting briefly to get tested for a concussion at one point. He got two tries to throw the ball into the end zone from Pittsburgh's one-yard line in the second quarter, but threw an incompletion before getting intercepted on fourth down. The Steelers drove the ball down for a touchdown to make it 17-0 on the ensuing possession, then turned Yates over on a sack-fumble three plays later to…read more

Yates avoided a concussion during Monday's game versus the Steelers, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Analysis: Yates was knocked from the game after getting sacked for a fourth time near the end of the first. After a lengthy evaluation, he was cleared of any symptoms and returned to the sideline. A short time after he was given the thumbs up, his backup, Taylor Heinicke, left the game under similar circumstances and will be beholden to the protocol for head injuries. On a positive note, Yates is back under center for the Texans.

Yates left Monday's game against the Steelers in order to be evaluated for a concussion.

Analysis: After he was sacked for the fourth time late in the first half, Yates needed assistance from the training staff to get off the field and was promptly examined in the blue sideline tent. If the diagnosis is confirmed, he'll have no chance to return to the contest, allowing backup Taylor Heinicke an opportunity to direct the offense.

Yates is expected to remain the Texans' starting quarterback over the team's final two games after head coach Bill O'Brien confirmed Monday that Tom Savage (concussion) is unlikely to play again this season, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Analysis: Savage remains in the concussion protocol and has yet to resume practicing since suffering the concussion in a Dec. 10 loss to the 49ers. While Savage could theoretically clear the protocol before the season ends, the nature of his concussion -- his hands and arms were twitching on the ground after he absorbed a hard hit from San Francisco's Elvis Dumervil -- and the Texans' improper handling of the matter would likely invite criticism if he was allowed to suit up again in 2017. As a result,…read more

Yates completed 12 of 31 pass attempts for 128 yards, one touchdown and one interception during Sunday's 45-7 loss to the Jaguars.

Analysis: Yates struggled to get going against the ferocious Jacksonville defense and had just 31 yards to his name at the half. He connected a couple of times with DeAndre Hopkins as the latter capped off an 81-yard drive with a touchdown in the third quarter, but that represented all of the scoring the visitors would do on the day. Yates fared much better in his season debut against a lesser 49ers defense, but his performance against a quality opponent this week doesn't bode well for next Monday's game…read more

Yates will start Sunday against the Jaguars with Texans head coach Bill O'Brien effectively ruling Tom Savage (concussion) out for the contest, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Analysis: After Savage was removed from the Week 14 loss to the 49ers last week, Yates took over under center and engineered a couple of long touchdown drives. While that might give the Texans some optimism about Yates' prospects for Sunday, he'll likely encounter much more resistance as he takes on the NFL's top-ranked passing defense. O'Brien maintains hope that Savage might clear the concussion protocol and return for the Week 16 matchup with the Steelers, but until that happens, Yates should continue…read more

Expected to start Week 15

Texans head coach Bill O'Brien expects Yates to start Sunday's game in Jacksonville, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Analysis: With Tom Savage already struggling and now placed in the concussion protocol, the Texans are prepared to turn to Yates for the hardest matchup a quarterback can have this season. Yates did complete 14 of 26 passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 26-16 loss to the 49ers, but he'll face a far more difficult test Week 15 against a Jacksonville defense that's limited opponents to a 66.4 passer rating while piling up a league-high 47 sacks. It isn't quite clear if Savage is being…read more

Yates completed 14 of 26 passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns while adding 31 yards on three scrambles after replacing Tom Savage (concussion) in the second quarter of Sunday's 26-16 loss to the 49ers.

Analysis: Both of Yates' touchdowns unsurprisingly came on passes to DeAndre Hopkins, as the star wide receiver was unaffected by the quarterback change. Savage appeared to pass the concussion protocol and returned to the sideline with his helmet on, but the team opted to leave Yates in. Based on that development, don't discount the possibility of Yates starting next week in Jacksonville regardless of Savage's status. Given how well Jacksonville's pass defense has played, neither quarterback would make…read more

Yates took some reps with the first-team offense Wednesday, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Analysis: Tom Savage is expected to start Sunday against the Rams, but by having Yates work with the ones, head coach Bill O'Brien is signalling that he won't put up too long with a struggling starter. Savage, who was pulled after one half in the season opener, did not fare well for the first three quarters in last week's loss to Indianapolis, a team with one of the worst defenses in the NFL.

Yates will serve as the Texans' No. 2 quarterback Sunday against the Colts, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Analysis: Yates, who was officially signed Friday, will get the first crack at backing up Tom Savage in the wake of starting quarterback Deshaun Watson's season-ending knee injury. Matt McGloin, who was also signed Friday to provide depth at quarterback, is expected to be inactive.