HOUSTON — Dan Orlovsky didn't want to be Detroit's backup quarterback. Now he's the backup for the Houston Texans.

Orlovsky, who said he wanted to compete for a starting job rather than be a backup to Daunte Culpepper, signed Sunday to play behind Matt Schaub.

The Texans needed a backup after trading Sage Rosenfels to Minnesota for a fourth-round draft pick Friday.

Orlovsky said a big reason he chose Houston was to have an opportunity to work with coach Gary Kubiak, a former quarterback.

Orlovsky appeared in 10 games with seven starts for the 0-16 Lions last season. He finished with eight touchdowns and eight interceptions, with 1,616 yards passing.

It was the first significant action of the 25-year-old's career after he appeared in just two games in his first three seasons.