Texans name Taylor starting QB amid Watson drama

Houston Texans quarterback Tyrod Taylor. Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Texans officially name Tyrod Taylor starting QB for Week 1 amid Deshaun Watson drama

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 9/6/21

Last week, Tyrod Taylor said he hadn't been told whether he's the Houston Texans' starting quarterback. That changed Monday.

Texans head coach David Culley confirmed that Taylor will be under center when Houston opens the season against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.

#Texans coach David Culley tells reporters that Tyrod Taylor will start at QB, which confirms what appeared clear: Deshaun Watson will sit on the roster but not play.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 6, 2021

The news doesn't come as a surprise given Deshaun Watson's current situation. The veteran quarterback wants a trade out of Houston and is also facing many sexual assault lawsuits.

At this point, it's unclear when or if Watson will ever play for the Texans again. He's drawing trade interest and could play for another franchise as soon as this season.

Yahoo Sports' senior NFL reporter Charles Robinson reported last month that the Miami Dolphins had emerged as the frontrunner for Watson, but the franchise has appeared committed to Tua Tagovailoa thus far.

Dolphins head coach Brian Flores also sparked speculation that the franchise might not be interested in Watson, saying, "We have a high standard for the people we have in the organization. We want people with high character throughout the building."

The Texans signed Taylor to a one-year deal during the offseason as a contingency plan after he spent two seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers. The 32-year-old has not been a full-time starter in the NFL since 2017, when he was a member of the Buffalo Bills.

In addition to Taylor, the Texans also added Davis Mills via the draft for more depth at quarterback amid the Watson situation.

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