National Football League

Texans quarterback situation unclear for finale at Titans

Published Dec. 27, 2013 12:00 a.m. ET

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Interim coach Wade Phillips doesn't know who will start at quarterback for the Texans in their finale Sunday at Tennessee.

Phillips said Friday that Case Keenum was limited in practice because he was sore and that the decision on who will start will be made Sunday.

Keenum has an injury to a ligament in his right thumb and missed last week's game. If Keenum can't play, Matt Schaub will start as the Texans try to snap a franchise-record 13-game losing streak.

Schaub was benched after six games in favor of Keenum. He threw for 176 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions in Houston's 37-13 loss to Denver last week.

"We're going to wait and see how Case is," Phillips said. "It could be a situation where he wouldn't be able to start but he could be the backup."

Keenum fell on his thumb and injured it on the last of his four sacks in a loss to the Colts two weeks ago. If he is unable to play, T.J. Yates will be the backup to Schaub.

Keenum, who went undrafted after wrapping up a record-setting career at the University of Houston in 2011, wants another chance to pick up his first win.

Keenum has thrown for 1,760 yards with nine touchdowns and six interceptions this season but has lost all eight of his starts.

"I want to go win and that's my mindset," Keenum said. "I think everybody in that locker room feels the same way. I love playing. I love competing and I love winning. It's definitely better than the alternative and I think that's what we all want to go do."

Houston has the worst record in the NFL, and a loss will guarantee the Texans the top overall pick in next year's draft.

The Texans are also dealing with injuries to their running backs. Phillips said that last week's starter, Dennis Johnson, didn't practice and is "very questionable" for Sunday's game. Deji Karim, his backup against Denver, is out after breaking his collarbone Sunday.

Phillips said that Jonathan Grimes, who was signed last week, will start at running back against Tennessee.

Grimes will be the fifth different running back Houston has started this season.

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