Texans GM Nick Caserio: Deshaun Watson likely won’t travel with team for preseason opener

Watson was missing from training camp practices for about a week and only just returned to the field on Monday. He was being treated for ankle and calf injuries, or at least that’s the official reason for him being out.

Not that Watson was working much when he was practicing, relegated at times to fourth-string QB and safety on defense.

The Texans’ QB situation is very much up in the air, as Watson’s trade demand has been complicated by a personal scandal featuring numerous allegations of sexual misconduct.

As speculation continues to swirl about the reigning NFL passing leader’s future, Houston is trying to get a new, winning culture in place under Caserio and new head coach David Culley. The Watson fiasco is doing nothing to help that cause.

At least when it comes to the preseason, though, Watson probably wouldn’t be getting many reps in game action anyway, even if he was in good standing with the team.

Veteran journeyman Tyrod Taylor is the presumptive starter on Houston’s QB depth chart. He should get some reps at Lambeau Field on Saturday, but most Texans fans will be anticipating the debut of rookie third-round pick Davis Mills out of Stanford.

Watson’s lacking presence will likely be overshadowed by the Packers’ own QB controversy anyway. Jordan Love is going to take his first NFL snaps of any kind, and how he looks as Aaron Rodgers’ eventual successor — thankfully for the Texans — will supersede any lingering storylines about Watson’s absence.