INDIANAPOLIS -- For the second time this season, the Houston Texans have lost their starting quarterback due to an injury.
Ryan Fitzpatrick suffered a fracture in his leg in Sunday's loss to the Colts and will need season-ending surgery, a source confirmed to ESPN.com.
"I felt for him," Texans coach Bill O'Brien said. "I felt for him because he knew right away that it was injured, his leg was injured, and I felt bad for him. He put a lot in for this week."
NFL Network reported Fitzpatrick's season-ending injury earlier Sunday.
Fitzpatrick suffered the injury after a 2-yard rush on a 2nd-and-6 play early in the second quarter. He was carted off the field with an air cast on his leg.
"I just saw him take off as he's done so many times," Texans left tackle Duane Brown said. "(It) looked like a regular tackle. He tried to get up and sat back down -- that's when I kind of knew there was something up."
Rookie Tom Savage took over as the Texans' quarterback, completing 10 of 19 passes for 127 yards and an interception in the 17-10 loss. By beating the Texans, the Colts clinched the AFC South for the second consecutive season. The Texans, meanwhile, dropped to 7-7 and 0-13 against the Colts in Indianapolis.
Prior to his injury, Fitzpatrick had completed 3 of 6 pass attempts for 30 yards. He also had three rushes for 16 yards.
The Texans signed the 32-year-old quarterback as a free agent this offseason. He started in nine games before being benched in favor of Ryan Mallett, for whom the Texans traded on Aug. 31.
After his first start, Mallett suffered a torn right pectoral muscle. He started a second game before needing surgery and was placed on injured reserve.
The Texans then turned back to Fitzpatrick, who returned to complete 24 of 33 passes for 358 yards and six touchdowns against the Tennessee Titans. Last week, Fitzpatrick completed 13 of 19 passes for 135 yards.
