The Houston Texans may keep the same quarterback room for 2022.
According to Jeremy Fowler from ESPN, the Texans are open to the idea of re-signing Tyrod Taylor as a backup quarterback.
Houston is open to Tyrod Taylor returning but likely as a backup to Davis Mills. The Texans had a positive experience with Taylor, who is a total pro and helped Houston win two games in his six starts. Based on Houston’s lackluster roster, that’s pretty good.
Bringing back Taylor would assuredly give Mills, who is entering his second season, the starting job as the former 2021 third-round pick proved he can beat out Taylor. For the final five games, Houston turned to Mills as the starter despite Taylor simply having a hyperextended left (non-throwing) wrist.
The Texans have had some mixed messaging when it comes to Mills as the starter. On March 2 at the NFL Scouting Combine, new coach Lovie Smith said the Texans “don’t give out starting positions this time of the year” with regards to going into year two with Mills.
However, Smith also talked about how he saw Mills compared to the rest of the 2021 quarterback class and his development with offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton.
“I also got a chance to see a lot of the young quarterbacks in the league play, and I thought Davis played about as as well as most of them,” Smith said. “It was important too of course to keep Pep Hamilton on board, them being able to work together two years in a row. Again, I’m pumped up that he’ll be leading us and excited about his future.”
Keeping Taylor would be the signal that the Texans are committed to Mills as the starter. It would also keep the continuity of the quarterback room and give Houston a backup who understood Hamilton’s expectations in the offense.