Longtime NFL veteran quarterback A.J. McCarron signed a deal with the Houston Texans on Tuesday, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. As of this posting, the exact length and value of the contract are not known to the public. McCarron spent the 2018 season with the Oakland Raiders but has also played for the Buffalo Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals.
Source: Former #Raiders QB AJ McCarron is finalizing a deal with the #Texans. A new, experienced backup for Deshaun Watson.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 20, 2019
A.J. McCarron, Houston Texans Agree to Deal
McCarron initially started the 2018 season with the Buffalo Bills. Signed as a free agent, McCarron was brought in to compete with Nathan Peterman and Josh Allen for the starting job. However, the Alabama product suffered a collarbone injury in the preseason and couldn’t earn the top spot on the depth chart. In the weeks leading up to the season, Oakland acquired McCarron for a fifth-round pick to serve as their backup.
McCarron initially entered the NFL as a fifth-round draft pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. Signed by the Bengals, McCarron missed the majority of his rookie season with shoulder soreness. The rookie did make it on to the roster late in the season, although he never attempted a pass on the season.
McCarron’s first taste of real game action came during the 2015 season. Filling in for an injured Andy Dalton, McCarron took the reigns for the home stretch of Cincinnati’s season. Appearing in seven games while starting three, McCarron completed 66.4% of his passes for 854 yards, six touchdowns, and two interceptions. McCarron also started Cincinnati’s lone playoff game, an 18-16 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Bengals’ quarterback didn’t play well in that game, completing just 56.1% of his passes for 212 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.
McCarron returned to the bench in 2016 and hasn’t seen any regular playing time over the past three seasons. Throughout the course of his career, McCarron has completed 64% of his passes for 928 yards, six touchdowns, and two interceptions. The Alabama product attempted just two passes in 2018, with both falling incomplete.
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