Last week, a ridiculous debate was being waged around the city.
Who should the Texans ride with: C.J. Stroud or Davis Mills?
You couldn’t listen to local sports talk radio, turn on the local sports news or pick up a newspaper without hearing the banter about who should be the Texans’ starting quarterback going forward?
I kept thinking, “Really?”
Stroud effectively ended that debate when he returned from a three-week concussion protocol hiatus to lead the Texans to their most critical win of the season, defeating the AFC South-leading Indianapolis Colts 20-16 on the road.
Let’s not pretend that Stroud, the Texans’ quarterback the last three seasons and the catalyst of the team’s back-to-back division titles and two playoff wins in each of the last two seasons, was flawless in his return from the protocol.
He wasn’t.
What Stroud provided was leadership, presence, and calm – everything the Texans needed in a must-win game. The Texans are now riding a 4-0 game-winning streak, mainly on the strength of a relentless defense, but also because of the quarterback play of Mills and Stroud, and now back in the thick of a three-way race for the AFC South title.
“I thought C.J. did a really nice job coming back, missing a lot of time,” said Texans coach DeMeco Ryans, whose team improved to 7-5. “I know there’s some throws he would like to have back. But overall, I though he managed the drives really well.
“For him, coming back, not playing in a few weeks here, I thought he did a really nice job… If this is where he’s starting, it’s only up from here. So, I’m excited to see how he continues to progress.”
Let’s pause and make sure we give Mills his credit. He did what most backups in the NFL can’t do. Mills not only kept the ship moving in Stroud’s absence, but the veteran quarterback was also essential in putting the franchise on the right path, helping the Texans to a 3-0 record while at the wheel.
Mills’ journey to this point has been anything but routine. The Texans’ third-round pick (67th overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft, Mills was elevated to the starting spot well before he was ready in 2022, and it was so disastrous that the Texans used their No.2 overall pick that offseason to take Stroud.
A new head coach, new quarterback and a three-win season usually equate to the old starter moving on, but not in the case of Mills. General manager Nick Caserio handpicked Mills out of Stanford and likely didn’t want to completely give up on him, so Mills has stuck around as a backup these last few seasons.
The outcome has been tremendous growth, to the extent that Mills will receive a lot of attention from NFL quarterback-desperate teams this offseason.
But make no mistake, the Texans belong to Stroud. He’s earned it.
The narrative last week was that after watching Mills lead the offense by completing 69 of 116 passes for 719 yards, five touchdowns, and just one interception, it may be time to take a longer look at the former starter.
Kudos to Ryans for not flinching. Stroud was cleared from the concussion protocol, and there was no question that he was back at the wheel.
“C.J. will be out there, but we just got to go out, and all guys play together, all 11,” Ryans said last week in announcing Stroud’s return.
It’s been rocky at times since his sensational AFC Rookie of the Year season, but it’s always been clear that Stroud is the right man to lead this franchise. This season hasn’t been as smooth as any of us would like, while Stroud and first-year offensive coordinator Nick Caley get on the same page, while a solid No.2 receiver is developed and while the problematic offensive line continues to gel.
We saw some signs of improvement against the Colts with Stroud spreading the football around (22-of-35, 276 yards, one interception), keeping the mistakes to a minimum (yeah, the interception into double coverage was bad) and being the leader the Texans need.
“It’s a blessing. I’m glad my dog is back,” Texans star receiver Nico Collins said of Stroud’s return. “You only get one brain. You’ve got to take care of that. But, man, just to come back to the game that he loves the most – it’s no better feeling. So, I’m glad my dog is back, and he just keeps going.”
