The Houston Texans’ preseason opener turned grim late in the first half Thursday night, when rookie quarterback Graham Mertz went down with what team doctors are preparing to treat as a suspected ACL injury against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Mertz’s night ended in ugly fashion after he scrambled out of the pocket looking to pick up yards. As he tried to get himself to the ground, he fell awkwardly and immediately reached for his leg and helmet, a clear sign something was seriously wrong. He was able to walk off the field and make his way to the locker room, but he did not return.
For Houston, the injury is a brutal setback for a quarterback the team selected in the sixth round, 197th overall, in the 2025 NFL Draft. Mertz arrived in the league after four years at Wisconsin and two final collegiate seasons at Florida, where his 2024 campaign ended early after he tore his left ACL five games into his senior year.
That history makes this latest scare even more painful. It also adds to a troubling stretch of summer injuries for the Texans, who have repeatedly lost important developmental pieces in recent seasons. Stefon Diggs, too, tore his ACL in his first and only season with the team.
Before the injury, Mertz had been locked in a tight battle for a significant spot on the depth chart. Now, he may be facing a rehab timeline of 6 to 8 months before he can get back on the field.
In Other News...
Davis Mills Just Reignited A Texans Quarterback Debate Fans Know Well
Davis Mills got his first live work of the preseason in the Texans game against the Chargers, and it came sooner than planned after Graham Mertz left before halftime. Mills stepped in and immediately gave Houston a familiar look, finishing a first-quarter drive with a touchdown pass to Jared Wayne. For a team that already knows exactly where C.J. Stroud sits atop the depth chart, the backup spot still has a way of drawing attention whenever Mills gets on the field.
Mills recent contract extension made clear the Texans value him as Strouds primary backup, but games like this are also reminders of why his name still carries a little extra weight in Houston. He has been around this conversation before, and even in a preseason setting, every clean operation and well-placed throw tends to stir memories of a quarterback room that once looked a lot less settled. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Suddenly Face A Troubling Rookie QB Problem
The Texans preseason opener against the Chargers brought an unwelcome early setback for Graham Mertz, whose night ended after a painful fall while he was trying to escape the pocket late in the first half. Houston had been using the rookie quarterback as part of its preseason evaluation, but the injury quickly shifted attention away from the game and toward the health of a player the team had hoped to keep developing.
What makes the situation more troubling is the uncertainty around just how long Mertz may be out. The early indication is that Houston is bracing for a lengthy recovery, and the team now has to navigate the rest of camp and the preseason without a young quarterback whose progress was supposed to be part of the bigger picture. [Read more 🡒]