Tom Savage is energized about 2017.
The fourth-year quarterback was with his teammates and coaches at Monday's Houston Texans Charity Golf Classic, and even though the start of the season is four months away, Savage is ready for the opportunity to lead.
"I'm super excited," Savage said. "I know it's going to be a battle. You have to go out there and you have to perform at all times, especially at this position, and I know that, but I'm really looking forward to it."
Savage, who started a pair of regular season games at the end of last season, and came off the bench to lead the Texans to a comeback win in Week 15, reached out to first-rounder Deshaun Watson shortly after the Clemson quarterback was picked.
"I just shot him a text," Savage said. "I congratulated him and his family. I mean, it's an incredible honor to get drafted in the first round. I told him that the only thing that matters to me ultimately is that we win. So, let's just go to work."
Savage and the veterans started work in mid-April with the beginning of offseason conditioning. OTAs get going at the end of the month, and when they do, general manager Rick Smith has a lot of confidence in Savage.
"Tommy's smart," Smith said. "He's got all the ingredients that are necessary to play quarterback at our level. He's intelligent. He works hard. He's got the athletic ability. And the opportunities that he's had, he's done well with them. It's just a function of having the opportunity to be there consistently. I think he will continue to get better. I think he's got all of those traits and I think the more he plays and the more experience that he gains, the better he'll be."
Watson and the rest of the rookie class will report to NRG Stadium on Thursday, and then hit the field on Friday, Saturday and Sunday for rookie camp.
The Houston Texans roster in photos. (Updated 3/2/2021)
ILB, Tyrell Adams #50
TE, Jordan Akins, 88
DT, Auzoyah Alufohai, #98
P, Bryan Anger, 9
CB, Cornell Armstrong, 30
C/G, Beau Benzschawel #62
DT, Ross Blacklock #90
ILB, Curtis Bolton #47
DT, Andrew Brown, #97
TE Pharaoh Brown #85
C, Cohl Cabral #72
WR, Randall Cobb #18
ILB, Dylan Cole, 51
CB, Gareon Conley, 22
WR, Brandin Cooks #13
WR, Isaiah Coulter #82
WR, Keke Coutee, 16
CB, Keion Crossen, 35
ILB, Zach Cunningham, 41
DE, Brandon Dunn, 92
OLB, Duke Ejiofor, 53
ILB, Kyle Emanuel, 56
K, Ka'imi Fairbairn, 7
TE, Darren Fells, 87
G, Hjalte Froholdt #77
OL, Zach Fulton, 73
CB, Phillip Gaines #29
FB, Cullen Gillaspia, 44
OLB, Jonathan Greenard #52
ILB, Nate Hall, 48
NT, P.J. Hall #96
WR, Chad Hansen, #17
CB, Vernon Hargreaves III #26
T, Charlie Heck #67
RB, Dontrell Hilliard, #22
OL, Tytus Howard, 71
RB, Buddy Howell, 38
RB, David Johnson #31
CB, Lonnie Johnson, Jr., 32
T, Roderick Johnson #63
LS, Anthony Kukwa #45
LB, Jacob Martin, 54
QB, AJ McCarron #2
LB, Benardrick McKinney, 55
OLB, Whitney Mercilus, 59
WR, Steven Mitchell, Jr., 11
S, A.J. Moore, 33
S Eric Murray #23
DE, Charles Omenihu, 94
S, Jonathan Owens, 36
RB, Scottie Phillips, #40
G/T Brent Qvale #76
WR, Damion Ratley, #19
CB, John Reid #34
S, Justin Reid, 20
OLB, Brennan Scarlett, 57
OL, Max Scharping, 74
S, Michael Thomas #28
TE, Kahale Warring, 81
DL, Carlos Watkins, 91
QB, Deshaun Watson, 4
LS, Jon Weeks #46
