Davis Mills made his return to the field for the Houston Texans on Thursday during a preseason game against the Los Angeles Chargers. The quarterback entered the contest after Graham Mertz, who had taken over following the opening drive, suffered an injury before halftime. During the first quarter, Mills delivered a notable performance, highlighted by a successful 3rd-and-5 play where he connected with wide receiver Jared Wayne for a touchdown. That scoring drive propelled the Texans to a 7-3 lead as the first quarter concluded.
Following the performance, NFL insider John Frascella took to social media to share a clip of the touchdown pass, questioning whether Mills might be the top quarterback option on the roster. The Texans currently rely on C.J. Stroud, the No. 2 overall pick from the 2023 NFL Draft, who has guided the franchise to playoff appearances in each of his first three seasons. During the 2024 campaign, Stroud appeared in 14 games, overcoming a Week 9 concussion to finish with 3,041 passing yards and 19 touchdowns before the team's divisional-round loss to the New England Patriots.
Mills, a 2021 draft selection with the No. 67 pick, has a longer tenure with the organization than Stroud. Over his five seasons, Mills has accumulated 7,082 passing yards and 40 touchdowns. He is currently designated as the primary backup for the 2026 season. In September, the Texans signed Mills to a one-year contract extension valued at $7 million. His starting experience includes a stint during the 2025 season, when he stepped in for Stroud following his concussion, starting three games and making six appearances in total, during which he threw for 915 yards and five touchdowns.
The Texans have two remaining preseason games on their schedule, facing the Las Vegas Raiders on August 20 and the Carolina Panthers on August 28. The team is set to open their regular season against the Buffalo Bills on September 13 at 1 p.m. ET.
