After three days of Texans training camp, Tyrod Taylor is thriving as a leader.
The 11-year veteran is guiding the offense at quarterback. Through the first chunk of practices, Taylor said the offense has committed "very few mental errors" and is getting better.
"I feel comfortable being on the field," Taylor said. "It's been a good three days. We've done a lot of good things on offense and we continue to keep correcting and building. I think we're making good strides."
Taylor, who spent the past two seasons with the Chargers, has spent a decade in the NFL in a variety of roles. He began in 2011 with the Ravens as the backup to Joe Flacco. He won a Super Bowl ring the next season, and moved on to Buffalo in 2015, where he was the starter under center. Taylor spent 2018 in Cleveland, before heading to Los Angeles in 2019.
For now, he's happy to be practicing and "completely healthy" after missing most of last season with a punctured lung.
"It's a joyful feeling to be able to just go out on the field and compete, and that's what I look forward to each day," Taylor said.
In 72 career games, Taylor has a career completion rate of 61.4 percent, with 54 touchdown passes. His experience, and the position he plays, naturally make him someone the younger players seek out for advice and tips.
"Guys look for me for leadership," Taylor said. "Obviously that comes with the quarterback position, and I welcome that role. It also comes with experience in the NFL. Guys naturally gravitate to older guys and want to learn and pick their brains, and that's what we need."
Taylor's leadership is a welcome sight, even for veterans on the other side of the ball.
"Really good guy, cool, calm, collected," defensive lineman Whitney Mercilus said. "He is a great, great leader, especially what I've heard across the league and all that. Couldn't be a better guy just to take on that role right now."
Taylor and the Texans will practice in front of fans on Saturday morning at the Houston Methodist Training Center.
