HOUSTON – Texans backup quarterback Davis Mills is QB1 again this week.
Mills will start Sunday against the Tennessee Titans, one week after engineering a dramatic comeback win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
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Texans starting quarterback C.J. Stroud was officially ruled out with a concussion along with nickel Jalen Pitre and kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn by coach DeMeco Ryans.
Stroud is still dealing with symptoms and remains under the NFL concussion protocol, preventing him from returning to practice. He is still experiencing symptoms, including a sensitivity to light last week and headaches this week.
Mills ran for the game-winning touchdown on a scramble against the Jaguars. He also passed for 292 yards and two touchdown passes, overcoming an early interception.
“I thought just poise, consistency, never too high, never too low, great command, just really steady,” Texans offensive coordinator Nick Caley said. “It’s exactly what he’s been ever since my exposure around him and I’m sure well before me here.”
A former third-round draft pick from Stanford who was the Texans’ starting quarterback until the Texans drafted Stroud second overall out of Ohio State in 2023 when he was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, Mills improved to 6-19-1 as a starter. He completed 27 of 45 passes. For his career, Mills has passed for 6,619 yards, 37 touchdowns and 26 starts in 41 games and 27 starts.
He has built a good relationship with Caley, who has been impressed with his work ethic.
“He’s got great command, total command,” Caley said. “He’s into it. He’s very smart, very hardworking. He prepares. He works at it. He’s here early, stays late, watches a lot of tape. So, first class in every way and really cares about the position. There was nothing holding him back at all from that standpoint.”
Right tackle Tytus Howard practiced for the second day in a row and has officially passed the NFL concussion protocol. He is returning Sunday against the Titans.
Pitre remains under the NFL concussion protocol. He is expected to miss Sunday’s game against the Titans. The Texans could insert Myles Bryant at nickel. Candidates to play safety include Bryant, rookie Jaylen Reed and veteran Jalen Mills, who can be elevated from the practice squad. Bryant was signed to the 53-man roster Wednesday.
Right guard Ed Ingram returned to practice on a limited basis from a knee injury that kept him out against the Jacksonville Jaguars. With Ingram back at right guard, the Texans have options at left guard with the leader regarded as Jarrett Patterson after a solid performance last week. Ingram is trending toward playing Sunday after missing one game.
Fairbairn remains out with a quadriceps injury and Matthew Wright, his replacement, was signed to the 53-man roster from the practice squad Saturday under the expectation that Fairbairn will need more than one week to heal up. Wright made his lone field goal attempt and all of his extra points
And tight end Cade Stover, as expected, returned to practice after being designated for return from injured reserve after breaking his foot against the Los Angeles Rams in the season-opener and undergoing surgery. Stover has made a sound recovery and is moving well. He was limited.
Tight end Dalton Schulz didn’t practice again due to a shoulder injury along with an illness.
His trend lately has been to miss practices and then return on Friday and play on Sunday.
Backup tight end Harrison Bryant didn’t practice due to neck and shoulder injuries.
Defensive end Denico Autry returned to practice after missing one day with a lingering knee injury.
Reserve linebacker Christian Harris has returned to practice from a shin injury. He participated fully.
The following players were limited: Ingram, Stover, linebacker Jake Hansen (elbow), Autry.
Participating fully: linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (knee), Mills, wide receiver Braxton Berrios (quadrirceps), fullback Jakob Johnson (hamstring), Howard and Harris.
The Texans officially signed safety K’Von Wallace, one day after he had a successful workout that included defensive backs Brandon Hill and Beanie Bishop.
Tight end Lane Pryor was placed on the practice squad-injured list. He played collegiately at Northern Iowa.
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KRPC 2 and click2houston.com