HOUSTON (SportsRadio 610) -- Texans starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor tweaked his hamstring on a 15-yard touchdown scramble Sunday against the Browns.
It happened in the second quarter, though Taylor tried not to show the pain.
At halftime, the Texans medical, training and coaching staff looked him over, and Taylor said he was OK.
Head coach David Culley said Monday he could tell by looking at Taylor that it was his competitiveness talking.
"I kind of knew he wasn't OK," Culley said on the decision to pull Taylor for rookie quarterback Davis Mills. "I told him this is for the long haul, not the short haul."
That statement confirms Culley and the Texans plan on Taylor being their top guy behind center, even with the estranged Deshaun Watson still on the roster.
In fact, Culley must have realized he opened the door for Watson possibly playing during his postgame press conference Sunday. He opened Monday's presser, before fielding questions, making it clear Watson would not play in Thursday night's game against the Panthers at NRG Stadium.
"Before I get asked, Deshaun Watson will be deactivated this week, just like he has been for the first two ball games," Culley said. "As far as Tyrod goes, at this point right now it's day-to-day. He's getting an MRI. He's been looked at. We'll just see later on this afternoon how it is and what happens. We'll just take it day-to-day with him. If he's able to go and ready to go, he'll play."
The starter will likely be Mills, the third-round rookie who went 8-for-18 with 102 passing yards, a touchdown and an interception in his regular season debut Sunday.
Culley said the Texans could also elevate Jeff Driskel from the practice squad to provide depth at quarterback.
Their emergency quarterback without a backup, like it was the second half in Cleveland, is unclear. Culley said they might have gone to a wildcat formation with running back Mark Ingram behind center.
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Brandon Scott manages digital content for SportsRadio 610. Follow him on Twitter @brandonkscott.
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