HOUSTON -- David Carr looked somewhat disheveled, trotting off the field after a failed drive with a glob of grass jammed into the side of his facemask from being pounded into the Reliant Stadium turf.

It was late in last Sunday's embarrassing loss to the previously winless Cincinnati Bengals. The Houston Texans' No. 1 draft pick was completing another classroom session on what it's like to be a rookie quarterback in the NFL.

Appearances can be deceiving.

Carr has been battered but rarely flustered, despite the enormous task of getting established in the pros. For all his physical talent, teammates rank his poise and toughness right up there with those tight-spirals he throws.

Carr has been sacked 45 times and the season is just half over. He's on pace to set the NFL record for being sacked in a season, drawing the admiration of his teammates, who can only watch and cringe when the protection breaks down.

"That guy has taken a pounding," tight end Billy Miller said. "When he gets sacked, he gets sacked. It's not like somebody saying 'I'm tripping you.' He's really been hit, and some people have taken cheap shots at him."

All eyes have been on Carr since the first day of training camp and he hasn't blinked.

He was sacked six times and threw an interception in the first game, but he also threw two touchdown passes and led the Texans to a victory over the rival Dallas Cowboys.

The Texans then lost five straight before breaking through with their first road victory at Jacksonville on Oct. 27, when Carr played his best game, hitting 11 of 18 passes for 184 yards.

The good feeling lasted just one week. The Bengals scored 35 straight points and beat the Texans 38-3, sending Houston into the second half of the season on a down note.

Carr, however, is right on track.

"He's done a good job mentally, getting us in and out of plays at the line of scrimmage," coach Dom Capers said. "He gives us playmaking ability as far as any of the throws he needs to make."

In his first four games, Carr hit 44 of 98 passes for 519 yards and four touchdowns, with six interceptions. In the next four games, Carr hit 63 of 109 passes for three touchdowns and two interceptions.

Cincinnati's two pickoffs ended Carr's string of 97 straight passes without an interception.

"I have so much to prove," Carr said. "That's going to be an ongoing process -- to prove myself to myself that I can play in this league."