NEW QB LEADS
Veteran Tyrod Taylor is praised as a “consummate pro” as he takes Watson’s job.
With Deshaun Watson in the background but no threat to his starting job, quarterback Tyrod Taylor goes about his business in workmanlike fashion at his first training camp with the Texans.
Playing in his 11th season, Taylor has replaced the best quarterback in team history. Watson wants to be traded, and his presence on the practice field and in team meetings doesn’t create problems for Taylor or cause him to deviate from his mission to be a fullseason starter for the first time since 2017, his last year with Buffalo.
Taylor, 31, was signed to be the starter with his fifth team. The Texans are rebuilding, and Taylor is wise enough to know he’s a placeholder keeping the position warm until general manager Nick Caserio locates another franchise quarterback.
“He’s the consummate pro, and I don’t use that term loosely,” coach David Culley said. “He’s the first guy in this building every morning. He’s usually the last guy to leave, and that’s every day. That’s just who he is. You won’t ever hear him do a whole bunch of talking. He just goes about his business.”
Taylor had an excused absence from Saturday’s practice at Houston Methodist Training Center to take care of a family matter, according to Culley. His value to the team was evident when his backups, rookie Davis Mills and veteran Jeff Driskel, struggled with interceptions and misfires working in the red zone.
Culley said Taylor would return for Monday’s practice. His return can’t come soon enough for his coaches and teammates who have watched the quarterback since he signed as a free agent in March.
Taylor is one of the many hard-luck cases Caserio acquired to participate in the rebuild. After starting for Buffalo in 2017 when Culley was his position coach and helping the Bills end their playoff drought, Taylor lost his last two starting jobs with the Browns (2018) and Chargers (2020) because of early-season injuries.
“He’s a good player, good guy, a good leader,” new center Justin Britt said. “I feel like he’s had the short end of the stick the last few years, and he’s hungry. I think we have a team full of hungry guys.”
And Taylor is first in the chow line. He’d like to stay healthy and play as he did from 2015-17 with the Bills. He started 43 of the 44 games he played, throwing 51 touchdown passes and 16 interceptions. He also rushed for 14 touchdowns.
“I know him as a person, and I know him as a player, and he’s been going through adversity basically his whole career in this league,” Culley said. “He’s doing exactly what we thought he would do. He’s doing everything like nothing’s ever happened to him.”
Taylor, 6-1, 217, is a thinking man’s quarterback. He’s smart, experienced and respected by his coaches and teammates. He’s been in five different offensive systems, so he’s seen just about everything a coach can ask of him. He knows how to make quick decisions and adjustments.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity,” Taylor said about playing in his first season with the Texans. “Every time I get a chance to lace up my cleats and play the game that I started playing when I was 5 years old is a blessing. I don’t take any day for granted.
“I feel comfortable on the field. We’ve done a lot of good things on offense and continue to keep correcting and building as training camp continues, focusing on getting better, and I think we’re making good strides in that area.”
Taylor has a quiet professionalism. His familiarity with Culley and Pep Hamilton, his position coach last season with the Chargers who’s the Texans’ passing game coordinator/quarterback coach, has made for a smooth transition.
The coaches look to Taylor to provide leadership.
“I definitely feel that guys look to me for leadership, and I welcome that role,” he said. “It comes with the position and with experience in the NFL.
Guys naturally gravitate to older guys and want to learn and pick their brains, and that’s what we need.
“I’m excited to be able to lead the group. It’s a joyful feeling to be able to go out on the field and compete.”
Taylor is one of 29 new players on offense. He was asked about the challenge of taking over an offense with so many new players at every position.
“New players, understanding personalities, understanding how to talk and deal with certain people,” Taylor said. “Certain people respond to different motivation or conversation. As camp progresses, as things get back to normal with the vaccinated (and) unvaccinated, being more of a normal locker room, you get a chance to learn (from) one another.”
Through the offseason program and the early part of camp, Taylor has been impressing his teammates on the practice field and in the locker room and meeting room.
“Tyrod’s a great leader, a very good vocal leader,” running back David Johnson said. “He throws a great ball. He communicates well, (and his) pocket presence is great.”
If Taylor stays healthy and plays until the Texans want to see Mills later in the season, his leading receiver should be Brandin Cooks.
“You’re talking about a guy with a great work ethic (who’s) been playing this game for a long time,” Cooks said. “It’s fun being able to hear how he sees things when we’re going through plays, so a lot of respect for him.”
Left tackle Laremy Tunsil will be protecting Taylor’s blind side.
“He’s seen a lot of football, so you have to trust a guy like that,” Tunsil said.
Trust is vital on an offense with so many new players. Tim Kelly has returned as the offensive coordinator. He’ll combine with Hamilton to direct an offense that’s going to rely heavily on the running game that should benefit Taylor.
“My mindset has been the same since I was drafted back in 2011 in Baltimore, to walk in here every day with your best attitude, compete, prepare like a starter and make plays,” Taylor said.
“I always say each year is a learning opportunity. Whether it’s good or bad, you’re able to reflect on the previous years and work on how you can become a better player. How can you become a better student of the game?
“You have to find the positive of everything. I’m completely healthy now. I feel great to be in Year 11 and to be running around fresh as if I was in Year 1. It’s a blessing.”
Perhaps new running back Phillip Lindsay summed up the players’ feelings about Taylor when he was asked about the quarterback.
“Tyrod is probably one of the greatest dudes in the locker room and one of the greatest leaders I’ve ever seen,” Lindsay said. “That man puts a lot into this. Tyrod is a great person, and he’s going to do some great things.”