INDIANAPOLIS -- The mystery of the Houston Texans' 2016 starting quarterback remains unresolved, but the Texans will begin to figure out how he'll be protected this week.

Starting right guard Brandon Brooks and starting center Ben Jones are poised for free agency and the Texans will begin meeting with their agents Thursday and Friday. Those are the two positions for which the events of this week could make an impact on the 2016 season. Looking further into the future, the Texans will also be evaluating left tackles who could replace Pro Bowl left tackle Duane Brown in a few years.

The Texans drafted both Brooks and Jones in 2012 and they both worked their way into starting roles that suited them.

For Jones, that meant waiting until the Texans released longtime center Chris Myers last March. Jones was a center in college, but played guard for the Texans until the 2015 season. He helped the Texans weather multiple quarterback changes that resulted in four starters -- Brian Hoyer, Ryan Mallett, T.J. Yates and Brandon Weeden.

For Brooks, that meant working his way first into a rotation at right guard as a rookie, then becoming a starter the next season. Brooks has been dependable there. His health is something Texans coach Bill O'Brien mentioned during his postseason news conference. Though Brooks has been relatively healthy and played through some injuries, he missed a game last year with a sudden illness that appeared the morning of the Texans' game in Buffalo. The Texans had to make a quick change and Brooks spent the night in the hospital.

Several guards are hitting free agency this year and Brooks is one of the best. Those factors could combine to lead Brooks to test the market.

We're still in the very early stages of action in terms of free agency. The Texans can technically only meet with their own free agents until the new league year begins March 9, and those conversations are just beginning.