NFL notes: Texans bench QB Brock Osweiler in favor of Tom Savage
Tom Savage will start at quarterback for the Houston Texans on Saturday against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Coach Bill O’Brien announced the decision on Monday, a day after Savage took over in the second quarter when Brock Osweiler was benched against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Savage threw for 260 yards to help Houston rally from a 13-point deficit for a 21-20 win in his first regular-season action since 2014.
O’Brien wouldn’t say if he planned to start Savage for the rest of the season, saying the team is focused on the Bengals.
Osweiler has struggled in his first season in Houston after signing a $72 million contract to join the Texans from Denver. He threw two interceptions before he was benched on Sunday to give him 16 interceptions and just 14 touchdowns this season.
49ers in dire straits
About the only thing left to determine for the San Francisco 49ers will be if 2016 will go down as the worst season ever in franchise history.
After losing their franchise-record 13th straight game on Sunday in Atlanta, the Niners (1-13) must win their final two games to avoid matching, or breaking, the team record for losses in a season.
San Francisco can tie the single-season loss record reached in 1978, 1979 and 2004 by losing at the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday. With a loss in that game, the 49ers can set the record with a loss in the season finale at home on Jan. 1 against Seattle.
Jaguars tab Marrone
The Jacksonville Jaguars have named Doug Marrone interim coach for the final two games of the season.
General manager Dave Caldwell made the announcement, a day after owner Shad Khan fired coach Gus Bradley.
Marrone served as Jacksonville’s assistant head coach/offensive line coach the past two seasons. Before that, he was Buffalo’s head coach for two seasons (2013-14). Marrone went 15-17 with the Bills.
Around the league
A person familiar with the injury says Cleveland Browns wide receiver Terrelle Pryor tore a finger ligament and will need surgery after the season. He was hurt during Sunday’s loss to Buffalo and will try to play in Cleveland’s final two games. … Tennessee defensive lineman Karl Klug has a torn left Achilles tendon and will have season-ending surgery. Klug strained his Achilles in Tennessee’s 13-10 win over Denver on Dec. 11 but was able to practice late last week. Klug played in the Titans’ 19-17 win at Kansas City and further damaged the tendon during the second half. … Receiver Eddie Royal will miss the Chicago Bears’ final two games because of a toe injury. Royal is the 18th Bears player placed on injured reserve this season.