Notes and Quotes: Getting ready for Miami with Tyrod, trades and Tua

Nov 06, 2021 at 08:42 AM

Deepi Sidhu

Texans Insider and Lead Writer

When I scored, I almost threw up. It was crazy. I was so excited like I didn’t even know how to feel. TE Brevin Jordan after scoring his first NFL touchdown in Week 8

The Houston Texans travel to Miami to face the Dolphins on Sunday. Both teams look to snap a seven-game losing streak with a win in Week 9. In a busy week with a trade deadline and a return to starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor, here are the top stories and quotes of the week.

On Thursday, Head Coach David Culley announced that Taylor would start against the Dolphins after missing six games with a hamstring injury. Taylor started in Week 1 and led the Texans to their only win so far in 2021.

"I'm thankful for the opportunity," Taylor said. "I'm always thankful for the opportunity when I get a chance to lace up my cleats and compete, do what I love to do, what I've always done. Obviously, I was looking forward to coming back. Coach (David Culley) said early on that I would be the starter when healthy, and I'm thankful that he stood by that. I'm excited to lead the guys out this weekend and excited to get back on the playing field and just compete."

"Just his energy, I'm glad he's back, but I feel confident with either one, Davis (Mills) or him (Tyrod Taylor)," WR Nico Collins said. "I'm glad he's back. It's not fun being on the IR and not being a part of the team. Great feeling that he's back with us."

Taylor's return could also give Houston's run game a boost, according to RB Rex Burkhead.

"It's huge," Burkhead said. "It helps open up other things for us. They've got to concentrate on him taking off and running with the ball. When you have that, it usually helps out other things. It can be in the passing game, as well, but of course, as running backs, we love that because the focus isn't always on us in the run game. It kind of goes to him, and his ability to make people miss, whether that may be a pass, dropping back, scrambling, or in the RPO zone-read game."

The NFL trade deadline passed on Tuesday at 3 p.m. CT with no trade for Deshaun Watson.

"I actually talked to Deshaun here this morning," Texans GM Nick Caserio said Wednesday. "He and I had a conversation, so we're moving forward. We'll evaluate that situation as we move along here."

The Texans traded Charles Omenihu to the San Francisco 49ers.

"Charles was a good player for this team, he's done a lot of good things," Caserio said. "In the end, we felt like this made the most sense for our team and for him, to get a good opportunity to go to a good organization with a lot of good people."

The Texans also released DB Vernon Hargreaves III. Justin Reid said it was tough to see his teammates go, especially since they had become friends, but the secondary was working to make some much-needed improvements.

"We're just trying to figure it out on the back end, find the best combination to eliminate those missed tackles, stop the big plays and find a way to play a tighter defense," Reid said.

Houston's defense will face QB Tua Tagovailoa on Sunday, who has passed for 205 yards and scored on his fifth-career rushing touchdown last week against the Bills. Tagovailaoa has had a 70+ completion percentage, two-plus touchdown passes and a 95+ rating in two of his past three games.

"As far as a quarterback talent, I think he has an accurate arm," Reid said. "I still think he's trying to find his groove into the NFL, so they're taking care of him with the short passes, RPOs, that type of thing. He is a lefty, (and) he's one of the few lefties in the league, so that's a little bit different as far as quick game goes, with tendencies and which direction he likes to go to, but he's a solid guy. He's talented. He was a first-round pick for a reason, so he's still just trying to find his wings and become their guy."

Rookie Brevin Jordan will return to Hard Rock Stadium, where he played during his three seasons as a Miami Hurricane.

"I'm very excited," Jordan said. "I'm going to go to Hard Rock Stadium and just take a deep breath, and I'm going to look in the sky and remind myself how grateful I am. Because the University of Miami is where it all started for me."

The Texans will kick off against the Dolphins (1-7) Sunday at noon CT on CBS and SportsRadio 610.

The next time you can see the Texans at NRG Stadium will be on November 28 as they host the New York Jets in Week 12. Kickoff is set for noon CT. Click here for tickets.