Despite being thrown into the fire after CJ Stroud’s concussion, Davis Mills has done far more than simply keep the Houston Texans afloat. With steady decision-making, mistake-free football, and a calm command of the offence, the 27-year-old has quietly stabilized a team that opened the season in chaos.

But now, with Stroud finally cleared from the concussion protocol and expected to return, the question hanging over Houston is simple: What happens to Mills? And for the first time since taking over, the Texans’ backup quarterback is breaking his silence on the situation.

Despite this string of stellar performances, Mills understands his position in the Texans quarterback pecking order.

“I don’t think there’s a competition. I mean, CJ is the starter for this team. I’m just doing everything I can to bring my best foot forward every day, make everyone else around me better, and try to. I mean, provide and play my role to my best ability when I get thrown in there,” Davis Mills said, as reported by Jason Bristol.

Mills received the starting nod after CJ Stroud sustained a concussion in the second quarter in the Texans’ Week 9 defeat to the Denver Broncos. Stroud’s recovery followed the NFL protocol, which required a longer time than expected. He was only cleared after completing two full weeks of limited practice, which highlights the severity of his injury. Furthermore, this wasn’t Stroud’s first concussion-related injury, as he entered the protocol in December 2023 when he had to miss two games.

But with Stroud being cleared from the concussion protocol, he is expected to return for the matchup against the Indianapolis Colts, as per Ian Rapoport. This means Mills’ appearance against the Bills could be his last. But throughout this period, the backup has garnered a lot of praise from Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans.

How has coach Ryans reacted to Davis Mills’ performances as a starter?

Davis Mills has established himself as an excellent replacement for CJ Stroud after starting in three games. Since his first start against the Denver Broncos, Mills has completed 86 out of 146 passes for 856 yards, with five touchdowns and only one interception. In response to Mills’ performance, head coach DeMeco Ryans described him as “phenomenal.”

“Coming in, especially on a short week and not having a lot of full-speed reps, the timing on some throws was affected a bit. I thought he weathered the storm and handled himself well, even though there were passes we would have liked to connect on. He remained steady and calm, keeping everyone else relaxed on the sideline. He did a great job during the two-minute drive before halftime, which was huge for us,” Coach Ryans stated during the press conference.

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Support for Mills has also come from his teammates, including star wide receiver Nico Collins. After defeating the Tennessee Titans, Collins praised Mills’ composed demeanor in huddles.

“Every time Mills steps into the huddle, it’s always calm. He tells everyone to slow down and breathe, focusing on one play at a time. His calmness really helps settle everyone down, and that’s how you execute,” Collins remarked.

As the Houston Texans look toward the second half of the season, after starting 0-3, they could become dark-horse playoff contenders. With a returning CJ Stroud, one of the league’s top-ranked defences, and a current record of 6-5, the Texans are firmly in the AFC playoff race, trailing the Jacksonville Jaguars (6-4) for the final wild-card spot in the AFC.