Texans veteran starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor is being designated for return from injured reserve Wednesday and will practice, setting the scene for him potentially being under center Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams.
Texans coach David Culley emphasized that Taylor has to prove that he has fully recovered from a Grade 2 strained hamstring suffered in his left leg running for a touchdown against the Cleveland Browns to replace rookie Davis Mills this week at NRG Stadium.
Culley added that Mills will take the first-team offense snaps because Taylor doesn't need the work to get prepared.
"As far as his status for the game, that's still up in the air right now," Culley said. "Davis will get the reps. Tyrod, we'll just ease him back into practice just to see where he's at. Tyrod is a veteran. He's been around. He doesn't have to have all the reps. Davis needs the reps, if Davis is going to be playing this week as the starting quarterback, and right now he is. As we move into the week, we feel good about where Tyrod is at and we'll give him some reps.
"Him being a veteran quarterback, that's not an issue. He needs the reps because if Tyrod can't go, he's going to be the quarterback. Tyrod doesn't have to have those reps. If we knew Tyrod was healthy to play going into this week, then he would get those reps."
A former Pro Bowl selection, Taylor completed 10 of 11 passes for 125 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions for a 144.3 passer rating before having to leave the Browns game at halftime. Taylor completed 70.5 percent of his throws for 416 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions for a career-high 122.9 passer rating before the injury.
Mills has passed for 1,047 yards, five touchdowns and seven interceptions for the 1-6 Texans, who are on a six-game losing streak and 0-5 with the third-round draft pick from Stanford as their starter. He has primarily thrown short passes.
"We're trying to get those explosive plays, we just haven't done that," Culley said. "If we had stayed above the chains on first and second down, then we'd be getting the ball down the field. We're trying to get back to manageable situations."
The Texans won their only game of the season with Taylor under center against the Jacksonville Jaguars to start the season and were leading the Browns at halftime when Taylor exited the game.
Photo: Getty Images
“He was our starting quarterback, and when he’s healthy, he’ll be our starting quarterback,” Culley said Monday during his weekly press conference at NRG Stadium. “Obviously, they knew that. Obviously, it will be a boost if he’s healthy and ready to come back. Hopefully, a lot of these things that are happening right now, not because of him, but we need a lift right now.
“If that lift comes from him coming back, fine. If not, if he’s not back, then that lift’s going to come from us doing the things that we just said that we’ve got to do to eliminate the bad things that are happening to us.”
Culley reiterated that there's no guarantee Taylor will be able to play Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams. Culley has previously said Taylor would need a ramp-up period to avoid a potential setback with his injured left leg. Taylor has made significant progress recently, though, and there is some optimism that he could return as soon as this week.
“I don’t know if he will be able to go, but he will practice on Wednesday and we are just going to take it day by day on Wednesday and decide as we’re moving forward,” Culley said. “But he will practice.”
Mills is bracing for potentially being replaced and didn't sound emotional about the pending decision. Obviously, the strong-armed third-round draft pick from Stanford wants to stay on the field.
“I mean whatever decision is made, with whoever we are playing, that’s up to coach and the front office," Mills said. "I know that both of us are willing to do what it takes for the team to win. You never know, obviously. I think experience was the biggest thing for me. I’m getting that right now, and I’ve definitely grown from before I was playing. I’m willing to do whatever it takes for the team to win."
Mills completed 23 of 32 passes for only 135 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions for a 79.6 passer rating, but lost a fumble against the Cardinals.
“I think I’ve continued to progress," Mills said. "I feel like I’ve been playing better out there. Obviously, protected the football a little better this week, had the one fumble. Obviously want that back, Just have to keep making smart decisions with the football and keep rolling.”
Mills’ performance against the New England Patriots was extremely encouraging as he displayed accuracy, mobility and an ability to throw on the run, completing 21 of 29 passes for a career-high three touchdown passes and zero interceptions for a 141.7 passer rating. It was a big-time game for Mills, especially in light of his four interceptions overall, 23.4 passer rating, and first-half passer rating of 0.0 with one completion and two interceptions just a week ago during a loss to the Buffalo Bills.
“Davis has been fine,” Culley said. “I’ve been happy with Davis. When he has protected the ball, he has done everything we have asked him to do. We had a sack fumble that happened that he has to be able to protect the ball on.
“But other than that, he’s been handling the offense the way we want it handled. There’s been some things that we needed him to do that he hasn’t done, but that’s what some rookies do. For the most part, I’ve been very happy with how he’s handled things.”
Culley's stance of a player not losing their job because of getting injured has been welcomed by veteran players inside the Texans' locker room.
"I respect it and I appreciate it," said running back Mark Ingram Jr., a three-time Pro Bowl selection. "There's a lot of things you can control and can't control and one thing you can't control is injuries. To have a coach that believes in you and once you get healthy to start off where you left back, I think that is a blessing. That's someone that understands football.
"That's someone that understands the pedigree of football. Injuries are inevitable in football. To have a coach who believes in his guy and has his guy's back when they have an injury, that's something that's a blessing and something a lot of guys would appreciate."
Wide receiver Brandin Cooks emphasized that he's not playing any favorites on the pending quarterback decision.
“Love T, love Davis,” Cooks said. “At the end of the day, I love all my teammates. That’s a decision only a coach can make, that’s who I’ll put my trust in.”
Aaron Wilson has covered the NFL for 20 seasons, including the Texans, Baltimore Ravens, Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars. He has previously written for The Houston Chronicle and The Baltimore Sun. He’s on Twitter: @AaronWilson_NFL and Instagram: @aaronwilson7128.