Davis Mills vs C.J. Stroud: Could Texans QB Depth Create a New Debate?

Davis Mills made an immediate impact during the Houston Texans’ preseason matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers, leading to fresh debate about the team’s quarterback depth chart and C.J. Stroud’s position as the starter.

Mills entered the game after the Texans initially used Graham Mertz at quarterback. When Mertz suffered an injury before halftime, Mills returned to the field and continued to provide an encouraging performance for Houston.

Davis Mills Impresses With Early Touchdown

Mills made his presence felt during the first quarter when he connected with wide receiver Jared Wayne for a touchdown on a third-and-five play.

The scoring pass helped Houston take a 7-3 lead and immediately caught the attention of Texans fans and NFL observers.

NFL insider John Frascella shared a clip of the touchdown on social media and raised an intriguing question about Mills’ standing within the Texans quarterback room.

“Real talk: Is Davis Mills the best QB on the Texans?” Frascella wrote.

C.J. Stroud Remains Houston Texans’ Starting Quarterback

Despite the attention surrounding Mills, C.J. Stroud remains the Texans’ established starting quarterback heading into the 2026 season.

Houston selected Stroud with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, and the quarterback has helped the franchise reach the playoffs in each of his first three seasons.

During the 2025 season, Stroud appeared in 14 games after suffering a concussion in Week 9. He finished the campaign with 3,041 passing yards and 19 touchdown passes.

The Texans eventually reached the playoffs but were eliminated by the New England Patriots in the Divisional Round.

Davis Mills Has Significant NFL Experience

Mills has actually been with the Texans longer than Stroud. Houston selected him with the No. 67 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Across his first five seasons, Mills accumulated 7,082 passing yards and 40 touchdown passes. He enters the 2026 season as the primary backup to Stroud.

His experience gives Houston valuable depth at the quarterback position, particularly if injuries affect the starting lineup during the regular season.

Mills Stepped Up After Stroud’s Injury in 2025

Mills also demonstrated his ability to handle the starting role during the 2025 season. After Stroud suffered his concussion, Mills was named the starter in Week 10.

He started three games before Stroud returned from his injury. Mills finished the season with six appearances, throwing for 915 yards and five touchdowns.

Those numbers, combined with his latest preseason performance, provide Houston with an experienced option behind Stroud.

Texans Have Two More Preseason Games

The Texans still have two preseason games remaining before the start of the 2026 regular season. Houston is scheduled to face the Las Vegas Raiders on August 20 before taking on the Carolina Panthers on August 28.

The Texans will then begin their regular-season campaign against the Buffalo Bills on September 13 at 1 p.m. ET.

Could Davis Mills Challenge C.J. Stroud?

One strong preseason performance is unlikely to change Houston’s plans for Stroud, who remains the team’s franchise quarterback. However, Mills’ performance against the Chargers highlights the quality of the Texans’ quarterback depth.

If Mills continues to perform at a high level during the remaining preseason games, the Texans could enter the regular season with increased confidence in their backup quarterback.

For now, Stroud remains firmly positioned as Houston’s starter, while Mills’ latest showing has created an interesting conversation around the Texans’ quarterback situation.