Getty Images

Texans owner Bob McNair defended quarterback Brock Osweiler as basically being a rookie, even though he’s paying him like an established starter.

Osweiler came back to have a largely inoffensive game yesterday for the Texans, with a touchdown and an interception as they beat the Lions.

“He’s still basically a rookie,” McNair said, via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. “He’s going to make some mistakes, but he shows that he has the talent, he has the ability and has the leadership that the team has confidence in him.”

They don’t always show it by play-calling, as Osweiler is throwing a lot of check-downs and safe passes (6.4 yards per attempt yesterday). But McNair said he saw progress.

“I thought Brock had a much improved game,” McNair said. “I think there was a little miscommunication on that one interception. I don’t put that all on him. That was both of them. He made a lot of good throws I think he’s going to continue to get better.”

Osweiler’s 5-2 record tracks along with what he did in Denver, shepherding things along carefully. For his career, he has a 10-5 record and a 79.6 passer rating.

You might not think that’s worth a four-year, $72 million deal, with $37 million in guarantees. But McNair’s comfortable with it, or at least he says he is.