Mallett was not at practice Thursday due to a personal issue, CBS Houston reports.

Texans head coach Bill O'Brien did not go into specifics when asked about Mallett's absence. "That's between Ryan and I. It's just a personal issue for him," O'Brien said. The coach added that he thinks Mallett will be back Friday.

Mallett will begin this season as the Texans' second-string quarterback, since Brian Hoyer has been named the team's starter, the Houston Chronicle reports.

Mallett has been competing with Hoyer for Houston's starting gig through training camp thus far, but the Texans have apparently seen enough to deem Hoyer their regular season starter at this point. Obviously, that decision negatively impacts Mallett's fantasy stock, which becomes severely restricted unless some development results in Mallett being promoted to the starting job during the upcoming campaign.

Neither Mallett nor Biran Hoyer has been named as the starting quarterback for preseason Week 3 against the Saints, the Texans' official site reports.

Heading into the most important week of the preseason and we still don't know which way head coach Bill O'Brien is leaning. Neither quarterback was impressive in Saturday's preseason game against the Broncos, so we'll have to search for clues during this week's practice session leading up to Sunday's game against New Orleans.

Mallett started preseason Week 2 against Denver and completed 5-of-7 attempts for 23 yards and had a passer rating of 75.3. He was on the field for two series.

It was an unspectacular showing from Mallett, who threw a lot of short passes, averaging just 3.3 yards per attempt. The offense generated a couple of first downs on the opening drive but went three-and-out on the next. Head coach Bill O'Brien continues to say the quarterback battle is a tie and that may be true as Brian Hoyer did little to distinguish himself against the Broncos.

Texans head coach Bill O'Brien said Monday that there is no timetable for naming a winner of the quarterback battle between Mallett and Brian Hoyer, the Houston Chronicle reports.

O'Brien may not be in any rush to pick a starter, but he did at least say that he'll inform the media of his decision once it's made. Mallett will start Saturday's preseason game against the Broncos, after Hoyer got the nod in Houston's preseason opener. Both quarterbacks played well in the first game.

Mallett, who was 10-for-11 passing for 90 yards in Saturday's preseason game against the 49ers, will start the team's second preseason game, John McClain of the Houston Chronicle reports.

All three of the Texans quarterbacks (Mallett, Brian Hoyer and Tom Savage) that saw action in Saturday's preseason contest had success. While Mallett completed all but one of his passes, each of the other two quarterbacks tossed a touchdown pass, while none of the three turned the ball over. The starting gig likely remains a two-man race between Mallett and Hoyer, and the former will get his chance with the first-team offense in the second preseason game.

Mallett will serve as a backup in Saturday's preseason opener versus the 49ers, John McClain of the Houston Chronicle reports.

After Brian Hoyer has received the initial reps with the first-team offense, Mallett will enter try to his hand. On the initial depth chart, the pair were listed as co-starters, meaning their respective performances will likely determine who head coach Bill O'Brien calls upon in Week 1.

Mallett and Brian Hoyer are listed as co-starters on the Texans' initial depth chart, the Houston Chronicle reports.

Texans head coach Bill O'Brien said the quarterback battle has been even so far and his initial depth chart supports his words. This competition may be close enough for preseason games to be the determining factor.

Both Mallett and Brian Hoyer had good days Thursday, when Houston and Washington kicked off three straight days of joint-practice sessions, the Houston Chronicle reports. The two quarterbacks are competing for the starting job.

Mallett flashed early, completing his first 15 passes and connecting with receivers on sideline routes, over the middle and on post patterns. There are two more joint-practice sessions, which in theory gives head coach Bill O'Brien his best evidence to date as he assesses which one will be his starter when the regular season opens. He could make his decision based on the practice sessions, or he may wait until after next week's preseason-opener against the 49ers.

Mallett had a much better day of throwing on Houston's second day of training camp Sunday than he did when camp opened Saturday, CBS Houston reports.

Mallett got some chances with the first-team offense Sunday and had a nice deep-ball connection with DeAndre Hopkins. Both Mallett and Brian Hoyer will be getting first-team reps until the time head coach Bill O'Brien makes his decision as to which player will direct his offense. This will not be something that drags on as O'Brien wants the eventual winner to have plenty of snaps with the starters on offense.

Brian Hoyer, and not Mallett, took the first snap with Houston's first-team offense when training camp kicked off Saturday, the Houston Chronicle reports.

Head coach Bill O'Brien was quick to downplay the importance placed on which quarterback is taking snaps early on in camp. At this point of the summer, both Hoyer and Mallett will get snaps with the first-team offense and the competition will play itself out.

Mallett took snaps with the first-team offense Wednesday, but only after Brian Hoyer did so, the Houston Chronicle reports.

Mallett, who is coming back after a recovery from pectoral surgery, and Hoyer will be competing for the Texans' starting quarterback job throughout the summer.

Mallett said the pectoral muscle injury that ended his 2014 season early has healed and he's "ready to go," the Texans' official site reports.

Mallett has been throwing passes to his teammates on a daily basis and feels confident about that he's developing good chemistry. He'll be competing with free agent acquisition Brian Hoyer for the starting job, and his familiarity with the system gives him a slight edge, though nothing will be decided until much later this summer.

Mallett agreed to a two-year, $7 million contract with the Texans on Monday, Mark Berman of Fox 26 reports.

Mallett's deal reportedly includes less than $2 million guaranteed, as he will be signed presumably as the backup to Brian Hoyer, who is also expected to ink with the Texans. Mallett started two games for the Texans in 2014, accumulating 400 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. The 26-year-old has the arm strength necessary to be a starting quarterback, but has yet to prove good enough to maintain the role.

Mallett (pectoral muscle) is still undergoing rehabilitation but has done some easy throwing, the Houston Chronicle reports.

Mallett, who can become an unrestricted free agent when the new NFL year starts March 10, has expressed a desire to sign with Houston. And Texans head coach Bill O'Brien and general manager Rick Smith have repeatedly said they want Mallett back next season. So, there's interest on both sides. Houston's starting quarterback job is unsettled as we head into the new NFL year. Ryan Fitzpatrick is still under contract and Tom Savage (knee) is set to begin his second season.

Mallett (torn right pectoral muscle) has been placed on IR, the Texans' official site reports.

Meanwhile, the team confirmed the addition of fellow QB Thad Lewis, with Mallett's injury paving the way for Ryan Fitzpatrick to regain the Texans' starting QB job.

Mallett's season is over after he suffered a torn right pectoral muscle in Sunday's loss to the Bengals, ESPN.com reports.

A tough break for Mallett in his second start for the Texans. Currently in the last year of his rookie deal, the quarterback -- who is in line to undergo surgery -- is slated to hit free agency this offseason, so it's possible that Sunday's contest may be his last one in a Houston uniform. In Mallett's absence, look for Ryan Fitzpatrick to return as the Texans' starter at QB on Sunday against the Titans.

Mallett played through a right pectoral injury during Sunday's loss to the Bengals, and he may need to miss multiple games, The Houston Chronicle reports.

Mallett is scheduled for an MRI on Monday, at which point there should be an update on his health. His second start went much worse than his first, with Mallett completing just 21-of-45 passes for 189 yards in a 22-13 loss. If Mallett can't play against the Titans next week, Ryan Fitzpatrick will likely get the start.

Mallett (chest) completed 21 of 45 passes for 189 yards, while throwing one interception Sunday against the Bengals.

Mallett connected with six different receivers, though none accounted for more than tight end Garrett Graham's 41 yards. Mallett's completion percentage was down nearly 20 percentage points from Week 11, and things don't figure to get much easier in Week 13 against the Titans, who are allowing the ninth-fewest passing yards per game this season.

Mallet completed 20 of 30 passes for 211 yards, with two touchdowns and one interception in his first NFL start Sunday against the Browns.

Mallet connected with six different receivers, throwing his first-career touchdowns to defensive end J.J. Watt on a two-yard pass play. Mallet looked comfortable in the pocket and was able to avoid getting sacked in his first appearance after replacing Ryan Fitzpatrick under center. Up next is a Week 12 matchup against the Bengals, who are allowing 248.9 passing yards per game this season, which ranks 20th in the league.