Davis Mills didn’t need long to make his case on Thursday.
After Graham Mertz opened the game for Houston against the Los Angeles Chargers, the Texans turned back to Mills when Mertz went down with an injury before halftime. Once he got back on the field, Mills wasted no time giving the crowd something to notice. On a 3rd & fifth play in the first quarter, he hit Jared Wayne for a touchdown, helping Houston move ahead 7-3 before the quarter ended.
That throw was enough to spark a pointed reaction from NFL insider John Frascella, who posted the clip and asked, "Real talk: Is Davis Mills the best QB on the Texans?"
It’s a bold question, especially with C.J. Stroud already installed as Houston’s starter.
The Texans took Stroud with the No. 2 pick in 2023, and he’s helped the team reach the playoffs every season over the last three years. Last season, Stroud played in 14 games after suffering a concussion in Week 9.
Houston still made the postseason, then fell to the New England Patriots in a divisional-round game. Stroud finished with 3,041 passing yards and 19 touchdowns.
Mills, though, has been around longer. Houston drafted him with the No. 67 pick in 2021, and over five seasons he’s thrown for 7,082 yards and 40 touchdowns. He’s listed as the primary backup to Stroud heading into the 2026 season.
His 2025 season already had a bigger role than a typical reserve. In September, the Texans signed Mills to a one-year extension worth $7 million.
He began the year behind Stroud, then moved into the starting job in Week 10 after the concussion situation. Mills started three games before Stroud returned, and in six appearances overall he totaled 915 passing yards and five touchdowns.
Houston still has two preseason games left, with matchups against the Las Vegas Raiders on Aug. 20 and the Carolina Panthers on Aug. 28.
The Texans open the regular season against the Buffalo Bills on Sept. 13 at 1 p.m. ET.
In Other News...
C.J. Stroud Just Gave Texans Fans A New Reason To Believe
A training camp rep can only tell you so much, but when C.J. Stroud uncorks an 80-yard touchdown to a running back, it has a way of sticking in the mind. The connection with David Montgomery offered a glimpse of how Houstons offense might stretch defenses this summer, with Montgomery showing the kind of receiving versatility that can create another layer for Stroud to work with.
Montgomerys role already gives the Texans flexibility, and plays like that one hint at how much more difficult this offense could be if the quarterback and back are on the same page. For a team looking to keep building around Stroud, the real intrigue is not just the highlight itself, but what it could mean for how Houston chooses to attack once the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Rookie RB Is Forcing A Tough Roster Decision
Training camp has a way of sorting out the back end of a roster, and Noah Whittington has made sure his name keeps coming up in Houston. The undrafted rookie out of Oregon has stood out for the Texans with a physical running style, solid pass protection, and the kind of work ethic that has earned attention from both DeMeco Ryans and offensive coordinator Nick Caley as he tries to get comfortable in the system.
Whittingtons push matters because the running back room is crowded, and every practice rep seems to carry a little more weight for players on the fringe. The Texans like what they have seen from his ability to adapt, but the final decisions are still ahead, and Whittington is trying to turn a strong camp into a place on the 53-man roster. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Depth Battle Gets Real In Their First Preseason Test
The Texans are heading into their first preseason game against the Chargers with the spotlight on the roster bubble rather than the headline names, since most starters are expected to sit out. That leaves a long list of players with something to prove, and this opener is a chance for the coaching staff to get a clean look at who can handle real game action when the depth chart starts to tighten.
Jaylin Smith, Lewis Bond, Jared Wayne, Marte Mapu, Cade Stover and Jawhar Jordan are among the players expected to see meaningful snaps as the competition for jobs starts to sharpen. For a team still sorting through the back end of the roster, these preseason reps carry more weight than the typical exhibition workload, and the first test against Los Angeles should begin sorting out who is ready to stick. [Read more 🡒]