The Houston Chronicle has reported that the Houston Texans cut quarterback Kellen Clemens and will reportedly soon sign veteran Jeff Garcia as the team’s third quarterback.
Garcia, 41, worked out for the Texans twice in the past three weeks after starting signal caller Matt Schaub and back-up Matt Leinart both went down with season-ending injuries. Garcia and Clemens were among a group of five quarterbacks who first worked out for the Texans on Nov. 21. Houston ultimately went with Clemens and then signed former Carolina Panthers QB Jake Delhomme last week to back-up rookie T.J. Yates, who started in Houston’s 17-10 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.
According to the Houston Texans website, the Garcia signing has yet to be confirmed by the team.
Garcia graduated from Gilroy High, Gavilan College and San Jose State, and played five seasons in the Canadian Football League before getting his break in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers. In five seasons with the Niners, Garcia, who has amassed 25,537 yards in his 11-year NFL career and more than 43,000 yards combined in his 17-year professional career (CFL and UFL included), led the team to two playoff appearances in 2001 and 2002 – the last postseason appearance for the franchise. The four-time Pro Bowler has also suited up for the Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Eagles, twice.
While in San Francisco, Garcia played for current Texans quarterbacks coach Greg Knapp, whose tenure with the 49ers began in 1995. Knapp served as the Niners quarterbacks coach from 1998 to 2000 and as offensive coordinator from 2001 to 2003.
Garcia last appeared in a NFL game with the Eagles in 2009. He played one season with the United Football League’s Omaha Nighthawks in 2010.
