Texans release quarterback Ryan Mallett after missed flight

The Texans have released quarterback Ryan Mallett after he missed the team’s flight to Miami last weekend.

The Texans have released quarterback Ryan Mallett after he missed the team’s flight to Miami last weekend, the team announced Tuesday.

Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle​ reported Monday that head coach Bill O’Brien wanted to release Mallett before Sunday’s game against the Dolphins but was overruled by general manager Rick Smith. Releasing Mallett before the game would have left starter Brian Hoyer as Houston’s only quarterback.

Mallett missed the team’s charter on Saturday and had to take a commercial flight to Miami to be with the team. He said later that he missed the flight because he was caught in traffic.

The Texans must now sign another quarterback to back up Hoyer. Tom Savage, last season’s third-string option, is on injured reserve with a shoulder problem. Zac Dysert, previously the third-stringer for the Broncos, is on Houston’s practice squad. ESPN’s Tania Ganguli reports that the Texans want to bring back former Houston back up T.J. Yates, who is a free agent.

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- Dan Gartland