The fate of Texans’ season rests on Davis Mills’ shoulders

For the second straight game, Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud will be out with a concussion. He missed last week against the Jaguars and will miss Sunday's contest against the Titans, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.

Stroud's absence means that Davis Mills will be the starter for Houston again this weekend. Mills led the Texans to a 26-point fourth quarter last week against the Jaguars, erasing a 19-point deficit and keeping Houston's slim playoff hopes alive.

This week, the season still hangs in the balance. Houston is 4-5 and sits ninth in the AFC standings. Another loss would likely knock them from contention for a playoff spot, especially with teams behind them (Ravens, Bengals) getting healthier.

The Ravens have a very easy remaining schedule and have Lamar Jackson back. The Bengals opened Joe Burrow's window to return, meaning he could be back on the field sooner than later. As such, Mills' performance on Sunday might determine the state of their season.

Why Davis Mills might have to be the Houston Texans' savior

Last week, Mills had 292 passing yards to help lead the comeback. That was the most yards he's thrown for in a game since January of 2023. He gets the benefit of playing the worst team in the NFL this week, but he still needs to be at the top of his game.

A loss to the Titans would essentially end Houston's shot at making the playoffs. According to ESPN's advanced analytics, the Texans have just a 19 percent chance of making the playoffs. That number would drop close to zero with a loss this week.

Mills will need to show that he can be relied on for at least one more week before Stroud is able to return. If he plays as well as he did against the Jaguars, there might be a quarterback controversy brewing. At the very least, the Texans will still have playoff hopes.