Leinart hurt, Texans hold on to beat Jaguars, 20-13

If the Houston Texans are going to make the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, they probably will have to do it with their third-string quarterback.

Matt Leinart injured his throwing shoulder Sunday at Jacksonville, overshadowing Houston's 20-13 victory against the offensively inept Jaguars.

Leinart may have broken his collarbone, although coach Gary Kubiak said initial X-rays were inconclusive.

"There's a pretty strong possibility I probably won't be coming back this season," Leinart said.

But Leinart's shoulder injury appears to be a serious setback.

The Texans already lost starter Matt Schaub for the season with a right foot injury. Now, they are down to T.J. Yates and newly signed Kellen Clemens.

Yates completed 8 of 15 passes for 70 yards in relief of Leinart, doing just enough to help the Texans beat the Jaguars (3-8). Houston managed just two first downs in the second half.

Jacksonville's quarterback situation is a mess, too.

Coach Jack Del Rio benched Gabbert in the fourth quarter. Luke McCown led the team to a late field goal, but his fourth-down pass with about a minute remaining fell incomplete.

Leinart and Schaub stood next to each other for the final snaps, Leinart in a sling and Schaub in a walking boot.

Leinart, making his first start in two years, was hit hard by defensive end Jeremy Mincey late in the second quarter. Leinart completed 10 of 13 passes for 57 yards and a touchdown, a 20-yard pass to Dreessen under heavy pressure. He got hurt on the next possession.

Yates replaced him and drove the Texans into position for a field goal that put them ahead 20-10 at halftime.

That was enough to beat Jacksonville, which outgained Houston 255-215 in total yards.

McCown, named the starter five days before the season opener and then benched after two games, replaced Gabbert for the final two series. But he failed to do enough for a comeback.

McCown was 7 of 11 passing for 62 yards. Gabbert was 13 of 29 for 136 yards, with an interception.

The Texans finished with seven sacks, four of them coming from Connor Barwin.

Tight end Marcedes Lewis, all alone in the end zone, dropped a pass that would have put Jacksonville ahead 14-7 in the second quarter. Instead, the Jaguars had to settle for a short field goal and a 10-7 lead.

Jacksonville's only touchdown came on Ashton Youboty's 38-yard fumble return on the opening series. Foster fumbled for the first time in 172 carries this season, coughing up the ball on Paul Posluszny's tackle.

Foster bounced back with a 43-yard gain on the next possession and later scored on a 1-yard plunge. It was his fifth consecutive game with a rushing touchdown.