(SportsRadio 610) - It had been almost two years since Case Keenum threw more than five passes in an NFL game. He was tasked with filling in for rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud when the Texans faced the Titans on Sunday, and his big play experience proved valuable.
Keenum shook off throwing an early pick-six to the Titans and helped lead the Texans to a 19-16 overtime victory. He played far from a perfect game, but he was poised and ready to make plays in the most critical moments.
The Texans signed Keenum this offseason mostly to be a mentor to the younger quarterbacks in the position room, with Davis Mills already on the roster and eventually drafting C.J. Stroud No. 2 overall.
Keenum starting over Mills was a somewhat of a surprise decision by the Texans' coaching staff. Head coach DeMeco Ryans said after the game he felt Keenum gave them the best chance to win.
Most Houston football fans remember, Keenum is a legend from his time at the University of Houston and had stints with the Texans early in his career in 2013 and 2014.
The last time Keenum started for the Texans, he led them to a 23-17 win against the Jacksonville Jaguars at NRG Stadium.
"It has been a minute. It meant so much to me," Keenum said after the game. "I’ve said this a lot of times, and I haven’t really thought about what I was going to say up here but wearing the name of Houston on the front of my jersey which I have done for a long time and to get to do it again and represent for our city, for our team, it means a lot. It really does.
"Second of all, this team, I love these guys. I love seven (C.J. Stroud) back at home. Love that guy. I love 10 (Davis Mills). Davis is one of the best human beings I know. A great dude. I said early on Saturday that this was a game for both of those cats, as well as the rest of the team because we got a lot of love in that locker room as you guys can see and probably it radiates. So, it's very special and what a gritty way to get it done."