Brock will be back

Don’t be mad at the Houston Texans.

Moreso, don’t feel bad for Brock Osweiler.

The Kalispell quarterback was sent to the bench last weekend after throwing interceptions on back to back drives in the second quarter as his team looked for any type of spark to lead it past the woeful Jacksonville Jaguars.

Houston is in a playoff race, one that is getting tighter by the week, and needs to avoid any slip ups down the stretch.

For everything Brock has done well this season, avoiding slip ups has been a problem.

Blame it on an inconsistent offensive line that only has found its footing in the second half of the season. Blame it on a new offense that he hasn’t quite found his grasp of. Blame it on various injuries to perimeter players that could have helped the offensive flow.

In a lot of ways, despite being in his fifth year, Brock is still going through a lot of rookie bumps and bruises. New coach, new team, new offense and his first extended stretch of starting time.

But, because it’s his fifth year, that leeway is gone. The big contract in the offseason only put more public expectation that all of those first-year wrinkles would be ironed out quickly.

So far it hasn’t.

Through 14 games this season, Brock ranks last in yards gained per pass attempt, averaging fewer than six yards according to Pro Football Reference. Unlike some of the other quarterbacks that average a lot of short passes, he’s 27th in completion percentage, completing less than 60 percent of his passes. Most damningly, of 31 qualified quarterbacks, he’s 29th in QBR and 30th in passer rating. He’s also second in the league in interceptions, throwing 16 to only 14 touchdown passes.

This season hasn’t been good.

But, that doesn’t mean the end for Brock.

He’s only 26. And that big contract he signed in the offseason? It likely will get him a second chance.

He’s guaranteed $16 million next season which pretty much guarantees he won’t be traded.

With enough time, like in Denver, he still has more raw physical tools than anyone else on the roster, and likely anyone they could bring in this offseason.

He’s shown what he can do with those tools when put in a position to succeed. Last season he showed he could be a dynamic thrower that could come up big in tough spots. Even in spurts this season, he’s shown how good he could be.

While he won’t be starting this weekend, there will be another chance for Brock to prove himself. Whether it’s as a starter or off the bench in the closing weeks of this season or with a clean slate next season, there will be another chance.

Heck, he’s talented, smart and savvy enough to last a decade in the league as a backup, should it come to that.

So, don’t feel bad for Brock after this weekend.

He’ll get another chance. When that happens, it’s up to him to make the most of it.