The Houston Texans have a key Thursday night game tonight against the Cincinnati Bengals, as both teams look to avoid a 0-2 start. Houston, who got embarrassed last weekend by the Jacksonville Jaguars, will also have to deal with losing a key defensive starter to suspension and a change at quarterback.

Brian Cushing suspended 10 games

Yesterday the NFL announced that Texans linebacker Brian Cushing has been suspended, without pay, for 10 games, as he violated the league's policy on performance enhancing substances. His suspension starts immediately and he will not be eligible to return until November 28th.

The 30-year-old was already due to miss tonight's game since he suffered a concussion in the team's season opener.

In 2010, Cushing got suspended four games for violating the same policy, which is why he just got slapped with a longer sentence. The linebacker was named the AP Defensive Rooke of the Year in 2009 and was selected to the Pro Bowl. In 2012 and 2013 he only played 12 combined games due to a torn ACL and a broken fibula. Since these injuries, he has not been the player he once was over the last three season.

Watson named starting QB

A source has told ESPN that the Texans are expected to start rookie first-round pick Deshaun Watson at quarterback night.

Watson has taken first-team reps at practice all week and even Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis said that the team has been preparing as if the rookie would start.

Watson played the second half in last week's 29-7 loss to the Jaguars after Tom Savage was benched, going 12-23 for 102 yards with one touchdown and interception.

Watson will be the ninth different starting quarterback under head coach Bill O'Brien, in what will be his 50th regular season game coaching the team. Since 2014, when O'Brien took over, the Texans have had the most different starting quarterbacks in the NFL.

Savage's agent lashes out at team

Quarterback Tom Savage got benched after only 31 offensive plays in the first half of the season opener for rookie DeShaun Watson.

While Savage did not play well, going 7-13 for 62 yards and losing two fumbles, his quick benching was still a surprise.

In an interview with NBC Sports, Savage's agent Neil Schwartz blasted the team and O'Brien for the decision. He said “I'm still trying to figure this out...31 plays and you're getting benched? It makes no sense.” He went on to say that he watched every play and could not figure out why his client got benched. Schwartz finished by saying that “Someone has to defend Tom, and I didn't feel the coaching staff defended Tom or defended his performance.”
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED