Titans and Texans would be interested in free agent Brian Hoyer

Brian Hoyer’s contract situation remains up in the air. And with that long-term uncertainty, rumors will continue to fly in every possible direction.

There had been some talk that last Thursday’s game against the Bengals was a “referendum” game for the 29-year-old veteran out of Michigan State. In return, he had one of his best career games, pushing WFNY’s Craig Lyndall to say that Hoyer deserves an Andy Dalton-like contract.

If the Browns are somehow unable to reach an agreement, however, and Hoyer hits free agency, then there will certainly be teams interested in him. ESPN’s Adam Schefter provided one tidbit of an update on his Facebook page during Sunday’s pregame shows.

Brian Hoyer and Bill O’Brien worked together in past and have an interest in doing same in future, per league sources. Hoyer trusts O’Brien as much as any coach in the league from their time together in New England, per sources, and would welcome a reunion. Titans HC Ken Whisenhunt, who worked with Hoyer in Arizona, also has interst, per sources. Cleveland has been in wait-and-see mode on Hoyer, whose contract expires after this season. Some around the league believe the deal could get done only as soon as the Browns truly are ready to make Hoyer, not Johnny Manziel, their long-term quarterback.

Be wary of this report and any of the others coming out. Obviously, Hoyer’s representatives have a distinct advantage in pushing a story that any possibly connected NFL organization would have a major interest in him. The Tennessee Titans and Houston Texans have had quarterback problems for years, so any free agent could be a possible fit.

Already, Hoyer’s nine wins as a starting QB are the third-most for a Browns quarterback since 1999. The Browns will look to improve to a surprising sensational 7-3 today at home as slight favorites over the Houston Texans.

[Related from August: Brian Hoyer, Johnny Manziel and the undelivered quarterback mandate]