Davis

Mills

The Texans had a turnover on a nice Mills completion when Robert Woods had a ball poked out in the open field. Otherwise the most notable thing about his start was face-planting on the goal line on a second-and-goal dive for the pylon he came up short on. It was Mills’ first extensive playing time in a regular season game since 2022. He didn’t look half-bad, but it isn’t like the Texans are sitting on hidden gold on their bench either.

Mills, the team’s starter before C.J. Stroud took over in 2023, signed a deal that adds one year to his current contract. That means he’ll be with the Texans through the 2025 season. Last year, Mills completed 18 of 39 pass attempts for 173 yards and two touchdowns in spot duty.

With the Texans trailing 36-7 at the 12:31 mark of the fourth quarter, Keenum was asked to take a seat for Davis Mills. The No. 3 quarterback was much better, though he was also facing a team that was so far ahead it benched Joe Flacco for several series. Mills deserves credit for making some big plays against soft coverage, but it wasn’t exactly a telling outcome. Thankfully for the Texans and their in-limbo playoff chances, C.J. Stroud (concussion) is trending toward a Week 17 return vs. Tennessee.

Boyle spent time as the Jets starter earlier in the season, throwing just one touchdown to four interceptions in two games. He was released after Week 13 and now the Texans will add him to their practice squad. With C.J. Stroud still in concussion protocol, the team is padding its depth in case of a lengthy absence from the rookie. Boyle is mere practice squad depth and should not see the field unless anything happens to Case Keenum and Davis Mills.

Per Wilson, the Texans are opting for Keenum’s experience under center as they chase a playoff berth without C.J. Stroud for a week. Stroud is listed as doubtful because of a concussion. Wilson noted that Keenum took the majority of the first-team reps in practice this week. Keenum has yet to take a snap this year and only attempted seven passes as a backup in Buffalo last year. He did, however, pull off two wins in his pair of starts for the Browns in 2021. Keenum will be tasked with protecting the ball and taking what the Titans’ defense gives him. That should result in plenty of check-downs to the running backs and easy completions to tight end Dalton Schultz.

C.J. Stroud suffered a concussion in Week 14 and did not practice at all this week. He was listed as doubtful for Week 15, giving him next to no shot at playing this week. Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans declined to name a starter on Friday, only saying both players are prepared to start. Bien-Aime added that his sources say the two quarterbacks have split reps during practice. Though the Texans are dragging this out, we expect Davis Mills to get the starting nod on Sunday. Case Keenum has not been active for a game this year and Mills has occasionally taken the field in Stroud’s place. Mills is a massive downgrade from Stroud, though he should be able to keep Dalton Schultz alive as a low-end TE1 and Noah Brown on the WR3 radar.

Stroud, who the team officially listed as doubtful, hasn’t practiced all week and is not expected to play, according to Wilson per sources knowledgable of the situation. Quarterback Davis Mills, who has started 26 games in his NFL career, will draw the start. Mills is 5-19-1 during his time as a starter but is one of the better backups the league has to offer. He’s thrown for 5,806 yards, 33 touchdowns, and 25 interceptions while completing 63.4 percent of his passes. Unfortunately, he’ll be without two of his top pass-catchers. Tank Dell suffered a season-ending injury in Week 13, and Nico Collins has been ruled out for Week 15 with a calf injury.

Stroud wasn’t able to practice this week and remains in the league’s concussion protocol after sustaining a brain injury last week against the Jets. Davis Mills will likely start for Houston in Week 15 against the Titans — a massive downgrade for every pass catcher in the Houston offense. Mills is only viable in deeper superflex formats for Week 15.

Back-to-back DNPs to open the week have Stroud trending on the wrong side of playing in Week 15 against the Titans. If he’s unable to clear concussion protocol in time for Sunday’s game, Davis Mills will draw the start in a game that carries significant playoff implications for the Texans. We’ll see if any new developments come on Friday, but for now, it’s looking like the Davis Mills show in Houston.

Stroud exited Week 14 against the Jets after being thrown to the ground by Jets lineman Quinnen Williams in the fourth quarter. Stroud will need to clear concussion protocol if he hopes to suit up for Week 15 against the Titans in a pivotal matchup that will carry playoff implications for the Texans. If Stroud is unable to go, it will be backup Davis Mills making his first start of the season. Mill has thrown for 5,806 yards, 33 touchdowns, and 25 interceptions through his first three seasons in the league.