NFL teams
Tania Ganguli, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Ryan Mallett's absence at Thursday's practice 'between me and head coach'

NFL, Houston Texans

Texans quarterback Ryan Mallett, now officially the Texans' backup quarterback, spoke on Sunday for the first time since missing practice last week.

"It was just something between me and the head coach [Bill O'Brien]," Mallett told reporters in the locker room. "We talked about it, and we're on to today."

Mallett was asked if he has put the incident behind him.

"There was nothing to put behind me," he said.

When asked on Friday whether the absence was excused, O'Brien did not respond either way.

"It's between Ryan and I," O'Brien said. "It's a personal issue."

The Texans selected Brian Hoyer as the team's starter on Aug. 24 after a competition that lasted through the Texans' second preseason game.

Hoyer started Sunday's game in New Orleans and played three series. He completed seven of 11 pass attempts for 82 yards and led a game-opening touchdown drive.

Mallett entered in the second quarter and completed nine of 17 passes for 77 yards. He threw one touchdown pass to rookie receiver Jaelen Strong.

"I felt like we went out and executed our game plan," Mallett said.

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