HOUSTON — Just when things looked sunniest for the Texans, coach Gary Kubiak said Monday that quarterback Matt Schaub will miss an undetermined amount of time with a "significant foot injury."
Kubiak said he was not told the specific nature of the injury, but multiple reports suggest that Schaub suffered a Lisfranc injury, which ordinarily causes serious harm to the midfoot area. Schaub injured the foot during a quarterback sneak in Sunday's win at Tampa Bay.
The announcement by Kubiak is a major setback for a team leading the AFC South with a 7-3 record and looking for its first playoff appearance.
Schaub reportedly will travel the country for examinations by at least three foot specialists. The 30-year-old will visit with specialists in Indianapolis and in Charlotte, N.C., and will also see one more doctor for even more evaluation.
"He's going to miss some time," Kubiak said. "We're going to do everything we can to get it evaluated correctly and see if we can't get him back on the football field. It's disappointing, but we'll go to work and try to do the right thing by Matt."
The Texans are in their bye week. Matt Leinart becomes the Texans' starting quarterback beginning with a game Nov. 27 at Jacksonville.
"That's why (Leinart) is here," Kubiak said. "You never know how an opportunity is going to occur, but here we go. It's a big one for him in his career. He's had a lot of reps ... he's played in big football games in this league, and he's played a lot of football. He played in big games in college. Matt's been around it, but the whole key is the team rallying around him and playing well as a team. Matt doesn't have to go win a game. The team has to go win a game."
Leinart, 28, last started a game in the NFL in November 2009 as a member of the Arizona Cardinals.
But Leinart said he's a different, more mature quarterback now.
"It's totally different," he said. "It's a whole different offense. I'm coached different. It's more my style ... if that's the right word ... they're so demanding of us here, but in a way that they get the best out of you. I love this offense and I love the stuff we do, and I'm older and more mature."
This could be an opportunity for Leinart to resurrect a career that looked more promising in 2006 when he was the 10th overall selection of the 2006 draft by the Cardinals.
"Now it's an opportunity," Leinart said. "I just have to go out there and just do what they're asking me to do: Manage the game, be efficient."
Schaub has started every game for the Texans since 2008, when he missed five games because of injury. In 10 games this season, he has passed for 15 touchdowns and six interceptions.
Other NFL players who have suffered Lisfranc injuries include Dwight Freeney, Ronnie Brown and the Texans' own Dominique Barber, who is on injured reserve because of it.
Kubiak said he was not told the specific nature of the injury, but multiple reports suggest that Schaub suffered a Lisfranc injury, which ordinarily causes serious harm to the midfoot area. Schaub injured the foot during a quarterback sneak in Sunday's win at Tampa Bay.
The announcement by Kubiak is a major setback for a team leading the AFC South with a 7-3 record and looking for its first playoff appearance.
Schaub reportedly will travel the country for examinations by at least three foot specialists. The 30-year-old will visit with specialists in Indianapolis and in Charlotte, N.C., and will also see one more doctor for even more evaluation.
"He's going to miss some time," Kubiak said. "We're going to do everything we can to get it evaluated correctly and see if we can't get him back on the football field. It's disappointing, but we'll go to work and try to do the right thing by Matt."
The Texans are in their bye week. Matt Leinart becomes the Texans' starting quarterback beginning with a game Nov. 27 at Jacksonville.
"That's why (Leinart) is here," Kubiak said. "You never know how an opportunity is going to occur, but here we go. It's a big one for him in his career. He's had a lot of reps ... he's played in big football games in this league, and he's played a lot of football. He played in big games in college. Matt's been around it, but the whole key is the team rallying around him and playing well as a team. Matt doesn't have to go win a game. The team has to go win a game."
Leinart, 28, last started a game in the NFL in November 2009 as a member of the Arizona Cardinals.
But Leinart said he's a different, more mature quarterback now.
"It's totally different," he said. "It's a whole different offense. I'm coached different. It's more my style ... if that's the right word ... they're so demanding of us here, but in a way that they get the best out of you. I love this offense and I love the stuff we do, and I'm older and more mature."
This could be an opportunity for Leinart to resurrect a career that looked more promising in 2006 when he was the 10th overall selection of the 2006 draft by the Cardinals.
"Now it's an opportunity," Leinart said. "I just have to go out there and just do what they're asking me to do: Manage the game, be efficient."
Schaub has started every game for the Texans since 2008, when he missed five games because of injury. In 10 games this season, he has passed for 15 touchdowns and six interceptions.
Other NFL players who have suffered Lisfranc injuries include Dwight Freeney, Ronnie Brown and the Texans' own Dominique Barber, who is on injured reserve because of it.
