Ry may force Atlanta native Mills into early start

The Houston Texans hope Tyrod Taylor can play Thursday night against the Carolina Panthers.

However, if his hamstring injury keeps him out, coach David Culley believes rookie Davis Mills can run the offense effectively.

“Our team has the utmost confidence in Davis,” Culley said.

Taylor was injured in the first half of Houston’s 31-21 loss to Cleveland on Sunday and didn’t return after halftime. Mills — an Atlanta native and Greater Atlanta Christian graduate — strug- gled early and threw an inter- ception on his second possession. But he bounced back to throw a touchdown pass that got Houston within 3 early in the fourth quarter before the Browns put the game away.

know he’s always one of those guys that when a bad thing happens, he comes back, he makes a play,” Culley said. “He had the INT there and came back the next series and ended up just playing exactly

we thought he would play, it never bothered him at all.”

Running back Phillip Lindsay saw several young quarterbacks start in his last two seasons with the Broncos and knows things should get easier for Mills now that he has some experience under his belt.

“You guys all see how it is to be a rookie quarterback that has to get thrown in the fire right away,” Lindsay said. “But as he got more comfortable, as things went on, he looked sharp. He looked good.”

If Mills starts, he’ll face a Carolina defense that leads the NFL in allowing an aver- age of total yards(190), yards passing (143.5), yards rushing (46.5), points (10.5) as well as sacks (10).

If Taylor can’t play, the Texans will likely promote Jeff Driskel from the prac- tice squad to back up Mills. Deshaun Watson will not be an option, with Culley saying Monday that Watson would be inactive for Thursday’s game just as he has been for the first two games.

Watson has been listed as inactive/not injury-related following his trade request and after 22 women filed lawsuits alleging sexual assault or harassment.

Houston had 160 yards rushing in its opener, but managed just 82 yards rushing Sunday.

RON SCHWANE/AP Houston Texans quarterback Davis Mills, a Greater Atlanta Christian graduate, struggled early Sunday in Cleveland and threw an interception on his second possession but bounced back to throw a touchdown pass.