HOUSTON -- Case Keenum channeled his former coach Art Briles when discussing his return to the state of Texas and to the Houston Texans franchise.

"It means a lot," Keenum said. "This is home. This is home for me. I heard a coach say the other day that I really admire, 'When I die they're gonna bury me in Texas.' They're not going to bury me in St. Louis. I'm very thankful for the opportunity that the Rams gave me. ... Great organization, great team up there. I really enjoyed my time up there but I'm very excited to be back."

The Texans signed Keenum off the Rams' practice squad this week after losing two quarterbacks to injuries in one game. Keenum spent the past six weeks on the Rams' practice squad, and he also spent time on the active roster there as they picked him up after the Texans waived him on Aug. 31.

"It was a [whirlwind] of a couple hours," Keenum spoke of when he got the phone call the Texans wanted to sign him. Texans coach Bill O'Brien talked with Keenum either very late Sunday night or early Monday morning. By Monday, Keenum was in the Texans' facility working to catch up.

"Some recall, some not," Keenum said when asked how much he recalls of the Texans' offense. "Having to catch back up to what they're doing now. I'm just working on it one day at a time."

Keenum started eight games for the Texans during their late-season skid last season. When the Texans fired coach Gary Kubiak, owner Bob McNair said he wanted to see Keenum start the rest of the season, but an injury got in the way. The new Texans staff released Keenum as soon as they traded for Ryan Mallett.