Breaking: CJ Stroud OUT Vs. Jaguars, Davis Mills Will Begin

[ad_1] If the latest Houston Texans harm report didn’t offer you sufficient unhealthy information for the day, buckle up: head coach DeMeco Ryans introduced beginning quarterback CJ Stroud presently stays in concussion protocol, and can miss Houston’s Week 10 recreation in opposition to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

This comes as a large intestine punch to your complete Houston Texans group and fanbase, who're nonetheless reeling from the last-second loss to the Denver Broncos. Sitting with a 3-5 document, the Texans can’t afford many extra, if any, losses for the remainder of the season, and now one in every of their franchise leaders might be unavailable within the subsequent recreation.

In Stroud’s place steps fifth 12 months quarterback Davis Mills, who will make his first begin since that legendary 2022 season finale in opposition to the Indianapolis Colts. Although it was a very meaningless recreation between two unhealthy groups, Mills’ took benefit of this final begin and went 22 of 38 (57.9 Cmp%) for 298 yards, three touchdowns, two interceptions, and a 87.4 passer score. And, lest us by no means forgot the veritable, incomparable, mini hail-mary:

This ridiculous landing go, adopted up by the game-winning two-point conversion, would find yourself knocking the Texans out of the primary general decide of the 2023 NFL draft and into the second decide - the place they would choose none aside from CJ Stroud. This seemingly meaningless recreation has since gone down within the historical past books of Texans followers and draftnicks alike, turning into a recreation that may have a butterfly impact on a number of NFL groups.

Sadly, Davis Mills didn't encourage as a lot hype and pleasure when filling in for Stroud in final week’s recreation in opposition to the Broncos. Filling in for CJ Stroud after he exited the sport final Sunday, Mills went 17 of 30 for 137 yards, no touchdowns, no interceptions, a 68.3 passer score, and exactly one first down in your complete second half. Yeah…ew. The strain might be on Mills subsequent Sunday as effectively, dealing with a division rival that Houston has already misplaced to earlier within the season. If the Texans need to give themselves even a shadow of an opportunity of successful the AFC South for the third time in a row, successful this recreation might be paramount.

Seasoned Davis Mills viewers know that the Jaguar’s recreation can go one in every of two instructions: both Davis Mills will throw dime after dime down the hashes, lower up the center of the Jags’ protection and go full gunslinger, or he might be one of the vital inaccurate and inefficient quarterbacks you’ve ever seen step onto the gridiron. Mills’ brief profession as a starter in Houston was marred by irritating inconsistency, however normal supervisor Nick Caserio’s resolution to stay together with his very first draft decide in Houston by giving him a one-year, $7 million extension indicators confidence that he’s turn out to be a dependable backup. So, regardless of the latest sampling, it’s protected to say something can occur in opposition to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

What do you suppose, although? Will Davis Mills return to the highs we noticed in opposition to the Los Angeles Chargers in 2021 or the Las Vegas Raiders in 2022, or will he crumble beneath the strain of constructing his first begin in over two years? Personally, although I used to be as soon as brandished the Mills flag proudly, I’m nonetheless just a little burned by final week’s second half catastrophe, so I’m cautiously optimistic. Tell us your ideas on Mills down within the feedback under!