Houston Texans: Tyrod Taylor ending Deshaun Watson’s starting streak

The Houston Texans will have a new season-opening quarterback for the first time since 2016, and his name is Tyrod Taylor.

When Houston Texans quarterback Tyrod Taylor takes the field on Sunday as the franchise’s starting quarterback he’ll be ending the four-year streak of Deshaun Watson being the starting QB to start the season.

Part of this occurrence is due to Watson. It is evident that Watson doesn’t want to be apart of this franchise, as he’s asked for a trade this offseason after the Texans finished 4-12 overall in ’20. There is also the fact Watson has his off-the-field legal issues to focus on, so some of that has come into play with Watson and the Texans as well.

This Sunday is a time to put Watson in the memory bank for now, instead Taylor is the main focal point for the Houston Texans offense, because he’ll be the one on the field when the offense takes their first snaps of the season.

Taylor started the season opener last year for the Los Angeles Chargers against the Cincinnati Bengals, but after an accident with medical personnel before the Week 2 game in ’20 while with the Chargers, Taylor missed games.

Taylor the lost his starting spot with the Chargers to Justin Herbert, and all of that eventually brought Taylor to the Texans, bringing him to be the first starting quarterback to start a season not named Watson since Brock Osweiler back in 2016.

Houston Texans: Was Tyrod Taylor ever the backup plan?

With how this entire offseason has went for the Houston Texans with the trade requests, drafting a rookie quarterback in the third round, and everything else that has happened, was Taylor the main choice for quarterback all along for the ’21 season?

Since Taylor isn’t on a short-team contract – and there isn’t is reason for him to be considered the long-term answer at the position – Taylor has an incentive to play better to either be on the Texans in ’22 or catch the attention of another franchise with his play in ’21.

Taylor will be a serviceable quarterback for the Texans this season. Nobody truly knows how long he’ll be the starting quarterback for the Houston Texans as there are many obstacles this team has to overcome.

For example, if Taylor struggles out of the gate will head coach David Culley change quarterbacks and go to the rookie Davis Mills? If Houston has a slow start to the season with a losing record after a few games of the 18-week schedule would a change be made at QB?

All of those questions will eventually be answered, but for Sunday in Week 1 the top focus for the offense is making sure Taylor is comfortable, protected, and he’s prepared to be the much-needed leader the Texans need on the field.

The Houston Texans kickoff against the Jaguars on Sunday, Sept. 12 at noon CT. on CBS.