QB Taylor to start for Texans

Houston Texans head coach David Culley announced Monday that Tyrod Taylor will start the season opener Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

“Well, Tyrod Taylor is going to start for us at quarterback, for sure,” Culley said Monday during a news conference. “I know that’s the one everyone’s wondering. It has come up before, but he will start for us on Sunday.”

This comes as incumbent starter and three-time Pro Bowler Deshaun Watson continues to face 22 civil lawsuits from women alleging sexual misconduct or assault. Watson asked for a trade in the offseason and was mostly held out of the team’s training camp practices. Watson is still on Houston’s active roster, but the NFL is still investigating the allegations against him.

Taylor, 32, has played in the NFL 10 seasons, most recently with the Los Angeles

Chargers. Ravens

Baltimore agreed to a four-year, $56 million contract extension with tight end Mark Andrews. The move keeps Andrews under contract through the 2025 season. Since 2019, Andrews’ 17 receiving touchdowns are the most among tight ends in the NFL. He’s entering his fourth season and was a Pro Bowler in 2019, when he caught 64 passes for 852 yards and 10 touchdowns. Andrews, 26, led the team in receptions that season and tied for the lead in 2020 with 58.

49ers

San Francisco 49ers rookie quarterback Trey Lance showed signs of progress in returning from a finger injury but there are still questions about whether he will be able to play in the season opener. Lance no longer needed a splint on the index finger on his throwing hand after suffering a small chip fracture in the exhibition finale Aug. 29. But during the open portion of practice for reporters, Lance didn’t make any throws. He held a ball during an early drill but practice squad quarterback Nate Sudfeld took warmup throws behind starter Jimmy Garoppolo.

Elsewhere

The Tennessee Titans’ COVID-19 outbreak is nearing an end even with two starting offensive linemen still on the reserve list. Not everyone around the NFL might be as healthy to kick off this season with COVID19 proving to be an issue hovering over another season. Miami put its presumed starting left tackle Austin Jackson and backup tight end Adam Shaheen on the COVID-19 reserve list ahead of Sunday’s opener. Carolina starting right guard John Miller also went on the reserve list and will miss the opener.