| 1 | Houston Texans' Brian Hoyer (7) throw prior to an NFL preseason football game between the Denver Broncos and Houston Texans, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015, in Houston. |
| 2 | HOUSTON (AP) -- Now that he's been named Houston's starting quarterback Brian Hoyer knows he'll have to continue to perform to keep that job. |
| 3 | Hoyer had been competing with Ryan Mallett for the job. |
| 4 | Coach Bill O'Brien announced the decision before practice on Monday. |
| 5 | ''The whole competition pushed us to be better,'' Hoyer said. |
| 6 | ''We competed very hard and I know that just because I'm named the starter today doesn't mean if we go out there and lose a bunch of games that I'm going to still be the starter. |
| 7 | Hoyer started 13 games for the Cleveland Browns last season before signing with the Texans in the offseason. |
| 8 | ''I thought that Brian showed me the most consistency, the most composure in certain situations, the experience in our system, all those different things that go into the fact that I think he's ready to be our starter,'' O'Brien said. |
| 9 | Some have questioned whether either of these quarterbacks are the long-term solution for this team. |
| 10 | On Monday he addressed that question without being asked about it. |
| 11 | ''We all need to give Brian Hoyer a chance,'' O'Brien said. |
| 12 | ''He's got an opportunity here. |
| 13 | He's got an opportunity to go in there as a starter and make the most of his opportunity ... I believe in him. |
| 14 | I believe in his ability to run our offense efficiently. |
| 15 | I believe in his experience in our offense. |
| 16 | The 29-year-old Hoyer was 7-6 as a starter last season and finished with 3,326 yards passing with 12 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. |
| 17 | ''Being the new guy in this organization I want to go out there and earn the respect of my teammates and I think the only way you really do that is by winning football games,'' Hoyer said. |
| 18 | Hoyer went undrafted out of Michigan State before signing as a free agent with the Patriots, where he worked as Tom Brady's backup until he was released in 2012. |
| 19 | He was also released by the Steelers and the Cardinals before signing with the Browns. |
| 20 | He started three games for Cleveland in 2013 before tearing his ACL. |
| 21 | ''I've always kind of had that chip on my shoulder,'' Hoyer said. |
| 22 | ''I've been doubted my entire career whether it was not getting drafted, cut, hurt, whatever it might be. |
| 23 | Mallett started two games for Houston last season before having season-ending surgery for a torn pectoral muscle. |
| 24 | O'Brien said he reminded Mallett that the Texans had to use four quarterbacks last season because of injuries when he spoke to him about what he called a ''very difficult'' decision. |
| 25 | ''You have to prepare every single week like you're the starter. |
| 26 | You have to be ready to play at a moment's notice.'' O'Brien said. |
| 27 | ''I believe that he understands that. |