The Houston Texans’ season may be going as some prognosticators had foreseen going all the way back to February, but the energy in the locker room is still positive and hopeful.
Houston fell to 1-2 after their 24-9 loss to the Carolina Panthers on Thursday Night Football. The Texans were only able to produce 193 yards of total offense as they started rookie quarterback Davis Mills on a short week. The third-rounder from Stanford completed 19 passes on 28 attempts for 168 yards and a touchdown.
Mills was filling in for starter Tyrod Taylor, who will be out for at least the next two games as he recovers from a hamstring injury.
Though it seems the Texans may be embarking upon a losing streak that could scuttle their season until Taylor returns, receiver Brandin Cooks remains optimistic about the direction of the team.
“We have a long time to break, get recovered, get the bodies right,” said Cooks, who led all Houston receivers with nine catches for 112 yards. “There’s no giving up. There’s no negative energy in that locker room. We know what we got. We got something special. But at the end of the day, we got to put it together, be more disciplined as players, stop shooting ourselves in the foot, get those little things right.”
The Texans were 1-9 on third downs and had seven penalties for 51 yards.
“Very happy what’s going forward and we’re going to continue to work in that aspect,” Cooks said.
The Texans face the Buffalo Bills on the road Oct. 3 from Highmark Stadium. Mills is expected to be the starter once more for Houston.