Former Pitt QB Tom Savage out with concussion, will miss NFL playoff game with Houston Texans

Former Pitt quarterback Tom Savage finally got his chance to start in the NFL this season, replacing Brock Osweiler and then being named the No. 1 option for the Houston Texans. In his time as the starter, he found success, leading Houston to a pair of wins and helping them to the NFL Playoffs.

Savage, though, won't be playing for the team in their first postseason game this weekend against the Oakland Raiders. He'll miss the contest with a concussion he suffered in the last game on New Year's Day against the Tennessee Titans. Savage was knocked out of that game and the Texans went on to lose, 24-17.

Savage was named the backup to Osweiler for this week after that injury and it was believed he could still come on as the backup this weekend. But on Wednesday, head coach Bill O'Brien, said he was still in the concussion protocol and would be out for the game.

That's a really tough blow for him. Savage has already been through a lot in the NFL and has had to claw his way up the depth chart in Houston. Now that he's there, he gets knocked back down.

Disappointing, too, is that Savage could have been in line to pick up a playoff win. The Raiders are without starter Derek Carr and are not only starting a rookie in Conner Cook, but it's Cook's first NFL game. The 12-4 Raiders suddenly look more beatable and it's a shame Savage won't get his chance to be on the field.

The good news is that he has shown he can be a capable starter and should get another shot. Savage hasn't been incredible but has been solid in leading the team to wins over Jacksonville and Cincinnati. In those two games, he's completed 63% of his passes throwing for 436 yards. He did not throw a touchdown in those games but did not toss any interceptions, either.

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