Houston Texans to start QB Ryan Mallett vs. Carolina Panthers

Ryan Mallett has been informed that he will be the Houston Texans' starting quarterback in Week 2 against the Carolina Panthers, multiple sources confirmed to ESPN's Tania Ganguli.

The Texans have given Mallett the starting nod over Brian Hoyer, who started Houston's season-opening loss to Kansas City but was benched in the fourth quarter.

The NFL Network reported earlier Wednesday that the Texans are planning to go with Mallett over Hoyer.

Texans coach Bill O'Brien has been mum on the topic this week, saying as recently as Wednesday that he knows who will start against Carolina but that his decision won't be made public until Sunday.

Hoyer, who joined the Texans as a free agent this year, won the starting job after competing with Mallett throughout training camp. But Hoyer struggled in Sunday's loss to the Chiefs, completing 18-of-36 passes while committing two turnovers.

Mallett played well after replacing Hoyer, orchestrating two scoring drives and prompting O'Brien to acknowledge after the game that he was uncertain who would start under center in Week 2.

ESPN.com Texans reporter Tania Ganguli contributed to this report.