Ex-Charger Taylor fills in at QB for Texans
With quarterback Deshaun Watson relegated to little more than a spectator so far in Houston Texans camp, Tyrod Taylor has been running the offense and asserting himself as a team leader.
“I definitely feel that guys look for me for leadership, and obviously that comes with the quarterback position, and I welcome that role,” Taylor said.
Though general manager Nick Caserio and new coach David Culley won’t say that they’re planning to start Taylor this season, everything that’s happened in practices this week has shown that they expect Taylor to replace Watson.
Watson led the NFL in yards passing last season and signed a four-year, $156 million contract extension with the Texans last offseason. But he became unhappy with the direction of the team and requested a trade in January after the Texans, who won the AFC South in 2018 and ’19, slipped to 4-12 last season.
His future was further clouded in March after 22 women filed lawsuits alleging that he sexually assaulted or harassed them. Houston police and the NFL are investigating the allegations, but no charges have been filed.
Watson still wishes to be traded and reported to camp solely to avoid being fined. He has been on the field for Houston’s first three practices but has only participated in individual work while Taylor and quarterbacks Davis Mills and Jeff Driskel have taken all the snaps during team drills.
Culley was an assistant with the Bills when Taylor played there and raved about his experience and leadership.
Taylor signed a one-year deal with the Texans the day after the first lawsuit was filed against Watson.
Taylor joined the Texans after a tumultuous 2020 season with the Chargers. He spent two years with the Chargers, backing up Philip Rivers in his first year before moving into the starting role last season.
He only started one game before being sidelined when a team doctor accidentally punctured his lung when giving a painkilling injection for a rib injury. By the time he recovered he had lost his starting job to Justin Herbert, who became the Offensive Rookie of the Year.