The Texans quarterback competition officially began this week in OTAs with the trio of Tom Savage, Ryan Mallett, and Brian Hoyer taking snaps.
For Hoyer, it was his first time in team drills as a Texan.
"I was really just itching to get out there and practice with my new teammates," Hoyer said Wednesday. "It's good to get back out and play actual football instead of doing the drills, coaching sessions, and all that stuff. To get out there and actually run some plays against the defense, it was a lot of fun."
For Mallett and Savage, it was the first time back in action after suffering season-ending injuries last year. Mallett, who was still in New England last year during OTAs, said he felt ready to go in the first day back.
"I felt good out there," Mallett said. "I felt in control at the line and with the guys."
All three quarterbacks had a chance to take part in 11-on-11 drills for the first time with rookies and veterans. Mallett and Hoyer reunited in another quarterback competition, similar to their days in New England.
"It's just like old times," Mallett said. "We haven't missed a step. He's come in here, he's worked hard, and I'm trying to do the same thing."
Savage, inactive for the final two games of 2014, participated in all of practice as well. Hoyer said the second-year quarterback told him he felt "light years ahead of where he was last year."
"I've been a second-year guy in this system," Hoyer said. "It really asks a lot of the quarterback. I think he's (Savage's) made, from what I've seen on the cut ups of film from last year to where he is now, to having conversations with him, his knowledge of the offense has gotten so much better."
Flooding in Houston delayed the start of OTAs from Tuesday to Wednesday, when continued heavy rain and lightening forced the team to move practice inside the Houston Methodist Training Center.
