HOUSTON -- When he balked at the presumption by some that he was out of the Houston Texans quarterback battle, Ryan Mallett hadn't yet gotten his day.

It came instead on Sunday, when Mallett spent most of his day with the first team, just as Brian Hoyer had done the day before. In an early first-team offense vs. first-team defense session, Mallett completed six of nine throws. One of those six might have been a sack, but as sacks aren't allowed right now in training camp, Mallett got the ball out under pressure to Nate Washington.

Texans quarterback Ryan Mallett spent most of Sunday's practice with the first team, just as Brian Hoyer had done the day before. Bob Levey/Getty Images

Among the three incompletions, one was nearly intercepted by linebacker Max Bullough, who dove for it. It wasn't reaching a receiver one way or another. Another play was a win all around by the defense -- Mallett threw the ball with J.J. Watt's arm wrapped around his waist, running back Arian Foster dropped the pass and linebacker Brian Cushing essentially tackled Foster for good measure.

The day's crowd pleaser came on a deep throw from Mallett to DeAndre Hopkins -- a signature Hopkins one-handed touchdown catch. The throw was nice and the catch was, too. In fact Mallett had nice touch on several of his throws -- he had a good one that should have been complete to C.J. Fiedorowicz. (Aside: I wrote this offseason about how Mallett has worked on reining in his powerful arm.)

Especially early in practice, one difference I noticed from Saturday to Sunday was that Hoyer seemed to go for it deep more Saturday than Mallett did Sunday. Overall from Mallett I'd say it was one of the better days he's had that I've seen.

A few more notes from Sunday's practice: