The Texans have followed through with the expected scenario involving former starting quarterback Brian Hoyer after signing fellow QB Brock Osweiler to a $72 million deal as their new starter.

The Texans are exploring potential trade scenarios involving Hoyer, according to NFL sources not authorized to speak publicly.

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Among the teams that need quarterbacks are Osweiler's former team, the Denver Broncos, along with the New York Jets and St. Louis Rams.

Hoyer, 30, remains under contract as he enters the second year of a $10.5 million contract and is due a nonguaranteed $4 million base salary this season.

Should the Texans trade Hoyer, they could go with Tom Savage as the primary backup to Osweiler.

Hoyer has displayed the kind of personality and team-oriented approach in the past where he could provide the Texans with the rare commodity of a proven backup. He regained the starting job with the Texans and Cleveland Browns and never complained about being benched and was supportive of the starter in each setting.

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Back to Gallery Texans exploring trade scenarios for QB Brian Hoyer 44 1 of 44 Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle 2 of 44 Photo: Karl Stolleis, Chronicle 3 of 44 Photo: Gary W. Green, Orlando Sentinel 4 of 44 Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Chronicle 5 of 44 Photo: James Nielsen, Chronicle 6 of 44 Photo: James Nielsen, Chronicle 7 of 44 Photo: Steve Ueckert , Chronicle 8 of 44 Photo: Christobal Perez, Chronicle 9 of 44 Photo: Karl Stolleis, Chronicle 10 of 44 Photo: Brett Coomer, Chronicle 11 of 44 Photo: Kevin Fujii, Chronicle 12 of 44 Photo: Brett Coomer , Chronicle 13 of 44 Photo: Getty Images 14 of 44 Photo: Brett Coomer , Chronicle 15 of 44 Photo: James Nielsen , Chronicle 16 of 44 Photo: Kevin Fujii , Chronicle 17 of 44 Photo: Karen Warren , Chronicle 18 of 44 Photo: James Nielsen , Chronicle 19 of 44 Photo: Brett Coomer , Chronicle 20 of 44 Photo: Matthew Stockman, Getty Images 21 of 44 Photo: Kevin Fujii , Chronicle 22 of 44 Photo: Brett Coomer , Chronicle 23 of 44 Photo: Brett Coomer , Chronicle 24 of 44 Photo: Brett Coomer , Chronicle 25 of 44 Photo: Brett Coomer , Chronicle 26 of 44 Photo: Bob Levey, Getty Images 27 of 44 Photo: Karen Warren , Chronicle 28 of 44 Photo: Smiley N. Pool , Chronicle 29 of 44 Photo: Bob Levey, Getty Images 30 of 44 Photo: Brett Coomer , Chronicle 31 of 44 Photo: Brett Coomer , Chronicle 32 of 44 Photo: Brett Coomer , Chronicle 33 of 44 Photo: Brett Coomer , Chronicle 34 of 44 Photo: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle 35 of 44 Photo: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle 36 of 44 Photo: James Nielsen, Houston Chronicle 37 of 44 Photo: Thomas B. Shea, Houston Chronicle 38 of 44 Photo: Patric Schneider, Associated Press 39 of 44 Photo: Tom Szczerbowski, Getty Images 40 of 44 Photo: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle 41 of 44 Photo: Michael Conroy, Associated Press 42 of 44 Photo: Reed Hoffmann, Associated Press 43 of 44 Photo: Brett Coomer Brett Coomer, Staff 44 of 44 Photo: Brett Coomer, Staff























































































Hoyer struggled mightily in the Texans' 30-0 AFC wild-card playoff game loss to the Kansas City Chiefs as he was intercepted four times and lost a fumble for five total turnovers.

Hoyer also had his share of success during the regular season after winning back his starting job from Ryan Mallett and overcoming a pair of concussions. He completed 60.7 percent of his throws for 2,606 yards, 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions for a 91.4 passer rating. For his career, the former backup to New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has completed 58.1 percent of his throws for 7,163 yards, 38 touchdowns and 26 interceptions for an 82.2 passer rating.

“Brian is a tough guy, mentally tough, good person, good teammate,” Texans coach Bill O’Brien said of Hoyer this offseason. “He’s a guy who’s been through a lot in his career and is a mentally tough guy.”