The Houston Texans have a bizarre quarterback depth chart, to say the least.
Deshaun Watson remains on the 53-man roster, but will likely be inactive in Week 1.
This is not a surprise at all given the way his offseason has gone, from trade demands to a whole list of allegations against him.
But it is still wild to look at the team’s depth chart and payroll and see all that committed to a player who won’t even suit up to start the season.
So who is the starting quarterback right now?
The team finally made it official with Tyrod Taylor.
All Texans fans can do is wince at this news.
A True Placeholder
Taylor saw success as a starter in Buffalo and was famously benched in favor of Nathan Peterman in 2017.
That experiment did not last long, but that decision pushed Taylor out the door.
He then headed to the Los Angeles Chargers where he suffered an injury at the hands of a team doctor.
In between was a stint in Cleveland where he got knocked out of the starting job by Baker Mayfield.
He is now in a situation with Houston where he is likely on a short least once again.
Rookie Davis Mills is his backup, trade options remain, and Watson could even end up changing his mind.
Like Ryan Fitzpatrick, Taylor is well-traveled for a reason.
He has been a starter, but every time he lands such a job he is never considered a long-term option.
And unfortunately, the lack of stars around him in Houston this year may only hurt his chances of starting the entire season.
The Other Options
The rookie Mills should see some time on the field if the Texans get off to a rough start.
However, they may choose to protect him on the sidelines if the offensive line is a key reason for the struggles.
Cam Newton should also be on the team’s radar if they want to offer up a semblance of trying to compete this year.
No offense to Taylor, but having him as the Week 1 starter is not going to inspire too many people in the locker room or in the stands.
Yet again, a lack of talent on the roster may prevent someone like Newton from jumping into such a difficult situation.
Some fans may wonder about trading for Nick Foles, but the Chicago Bears are going to trade him to a destination he approves.
That being Houston would be a shock.
The announcers should be mentioning Watson’s name nonstop during the Texans’ Week 1 matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
But it is Taylor who will be the one in charge of giving Texans fans hope amid such a bizarre start to a season.
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