Bill O’Brien intentionally surprised Texans’ Tom Savage with playing time

Surprised that Tom Savage got so much playing time in the Texans’ second preseason game against the Falcons? So was Tom Savage.

Bill O’Brien said he didn’t inform the rookie that he would see early preseason minutes in the Texans’ game. He wanted to surprise him.

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It might have been better if O’Brien had informed Savage, because he didn’t respond particularly well to the surprise.

O’Brien eventually had to adjust the offense to run the ball more often — which he said was the plan all along — but it must have been a product of his young quarterback’s limitations.

The 2015 fourth round selection has 22 yards despite going 6 of 8 in his two preseason game appearances.

At least, he’s getting some completions. Most importantly, he’s not throwing interceptions.

Starting quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick had a very solid game, throwing 9 of 12 for 97 yards and an 8-yard touchdown pass to DeVier Posey in the two-minute offense. O’Brien took Fitzpatrick out so that Savage could get some exposure, only to put Fitzpatick back in the game for some two-minute offense reps.

It comes as no surprise that O’Brien comes from the Bill Belichick coaching tree — Belichick is notorious for playing head games with his quarterbacks in preseason games, subbing them in the middle of drives