Houston Texans quarterback Ryan Mallett could miss several weeks with a right pectoral injury suffered Sunday vs. the Cincinnati Bengals.

Houston Texans quarterback Ryan Mallett could miss several weeks with a right pectoral injury, John McClain of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The severity of Mallett's injury is unknown. According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, Mallett might have torn the muscle during pre-game warmups. Mallett was listed during the week as probable with a chest injury, and he played through the injury on Sunday, appearing to struggle with his accuracy and velocity during the Texans' 22-13 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.

Mallett finished 21-of-45 for 185 yards, zero touchdowns and one interception, one game after a strong showing vs. the Cleveland Browns in his first career NFL start. Mallett went 20-of-30 in that game, throwing for 211 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.

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After the game, Mallett spent a long time in treatment. When he met the media, his right hand was in his pocket. When he was asked if he’d injured his hand, he pulled it out, flexed it and said no. Nobody knew to ask Mallett about a pectoral muscle.

Without Mallett, the Texans will once again turn to Ryan Fitzpatrick, who was benched in favor of Mallett before the Cleveland game. On the season, Fitzpatrick has completed 61.8 percent of his passes for 1,960 yards, 11 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

The New England Patriots traded Mallett to the Texans in August after he spent the first three seasons of his career there. New England drafted Mallett in the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft.

- Mike Fiammetta