With quarterback Deshaun Watson questionable with a back issue for Sunday’s season-ending bout with the Tennessee Titans, the Houston Texans may have to find a new quarterback to backup A.J. McCarron on Sunday, if Watson does not play.
The two primary options for Houston are practice squad passer Alex McGough and undrafted Mississippi State quarterback Nick Fitzgerald.
McGough, in his second season in the NFL, has not taken a snap with the Texans. He signed with them after Aug. 31’s cut-down day with the hopes of eventually earning a shot as Watson’s backup. The Florida International product has bounced between the practice squad and active roster throughout the season.
McGough is currently on the practice squad. He is a favorite of well-respected Texans quarterback coach Carl Smith, who previously coached him in the Pacific Northwest after the Seattle Seahawks drafted him in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL Draft.
“He came in and we worked with him for a week and he did some good things and we’ll see how it goes here,” Texans coach Bill O’Brien said on McGough after promoting him to the active roster in Week 2. “We’ll see how it goes. Good guy, smart guy, and just want to get him some more reps and see how it goes.”
Fitzgerald worked out with the Texans earlier in the week but went unsigned. An undrafted rookie of Mississippi State, he started for three years in the SEC, replacing Dak Prescott. In 44 career games, he recorded 6,207 passing yards, 55 touchdowns and 30 interceptions on a 54.2% completion rate.
Despite his background as a passer, however, many see Fitzgerald as a better option at tight end.
“Fitzgerald has struggled as a passer throughout his career, but the athletic ability he brings to the table is something special,” said Crissy Froyd, managing editor of the LSU Tigers Wire, who has studied SEC quarterbacks. “A position change may be what’s best for him in the future, but he hasn’t really been given a true chance to show what he can do at the NFL.”
Either McGough or Fitzgerald would act as McCarron’s backup in the case that Watson doesn’t play in a potentially meaningless game. Being that McGough is on the practice squad, he is the likelier candidate to get the backup nod.