Struggling Texans Fire Offensive Coach

The Houston Texans fired offensive coordinator Chris Palmer on Monday after the team’s second straight embarrassing loss.

Joe Pendry, the team’s offensive line coach, will replace Palmer.

“We have not performed up to our expectations,” Coach Dom Capers said. “We needed to make an adjustment to help us move forward in the direction we want to go.”

Capers and quarterback David Carr agreed that the offense needs to be more consistent and said they hope this change will facilitate that.

Palmer, who had been the offensive coordinator since the team’s inception, also called the plays.

The Texans lost to Pittsburgh, 27-7, on Sunday after losing to Buffalo, 22-7, in the opener. Houston has averaged the fewest yards (170.5), fewest passing yards (66.5) and points (seven) in the NFL through its first two games.

Pendry was the offensive coordinator under Capers for three seasons at Carolina. He spent 1998-2000 in the same position with Buffalo.

Steve Marshall, who has coached the offensive tackles, will take over Pendry’s job.

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Oakland receiver Ronald Curry re-tore his left Achilles’ tendon and will be sidelined for the rest of the season.

Curry was hurt in the final two minutes of Oakland’s 23-17 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday night and an MRI exam revealed the tear, Raider spokesman Mike Taylor said.

It took Curry more than eight months to return from the same injury last season.

Curry was unavailable for comment.

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New York Jet running back Curtis Martin strained his right knee against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday and his status is uncertain for this week’s game against Jacksonville. Coach Herman Edwards said that Martin was undergoing an MRI exam and would wait for the results before determining whether the back can play.

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Jacksonville quarterback Byron Leftwich apologized for his actions against Indianapolis on Sunday and vowed to play against the New York Jets despite a strained groin muscle.

Leftwich was caught on camera directing obscene gestures toward Colt defensive line coach John Teerlinck during the Jaguars’ 10-3 loss.

“I made a mistake. I have to deal with it,” Leftwich said. “I hate that I did it because I got caught on TV. But in the heat of battle, sometimes you do things. Maybe a little child was sitting there watching the game and saw that. That’s the only bad part of it.”

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The Minnesota Vikings and Anoka County have agreed on a plan for a $675-million football stadium with a retractable roof in suburban Minneapolis.

The sides intend to reveal how they want to pay for the stadium in a news conference today.

“We’ve been working around the clock and we are just putting the finishing touches on the agreement,” Viking executive Lester Bagley said.

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The San Francisco 49ers signed veteran offensive tackle Anthony Clement and waived defensive back Dwaine Carpenter.