Texans HC DeMeco Ryans makes stance on C.J. Stroud crystal clear as Davis Mills' performance raises major doubts around QB1

Davis Mills has been impressive on the field as C.J. Stroud's replacement in the past three games.

On Thursday, he helped the team to a 23-19 victory over the Buffalo Bills. In the post-game press conference, coach DeMeco Ryans was questioned whether there is a quarterback battle brewing on the team after Davis Mills' impressive performance in the past three games.

He shut down this notion by saying that C.J. Stroud will return as the starting quarterback once he is completely healthy.

"C.J, it's great to see him out there. He's back at practice. Just to see him back around the guys with a huge smile on his face, him feeling well, that's the most important thing when our guys are in the concussion protocol," Ryans said.

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"Just want to make sure that they're healthy and they're well. So, that's the on thing I'm most happy to see that he's well, he's himself and he' ready to get back to football."

C.J. Stroud suffered a concussion during their 18-15 loss at the hands of the Denver Broncos in Week 9. Before his injury, he had a 3-5 record with the team. The Houston Texans named Davis Mills as the QB1 in Week 10 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Mills helped his team to a 36-29 victory over the Jaguars. He won the next two games against the Titans and the Bills, securing a three-game winning streak with the Texans. In the five games he's played this season, the quarterback has recorded 879 yards and five touchdowns passing.

The Texans are currently placed third in the AFC South with a 6-5 record following their Week 12 victory.

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Davis Mills gets honest about competing with C.J. Stroud for the starting quarterback position

Despite going 3-0 as the QB1 of the Texans, Mills does not see himself as the starter once C.J. Stroud returns from his concussion protocol.

During the post-game press conference after Thursday's win over the Bills, the quarterback said that he is just trying to do his best until Stroud returns to the field.

"In my current situation, I don't think there's any competition," Mills said. "CJ's 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 provide, play my role to my best ability when I get thrown in there."

The Texans acquired Davis Mills with the 67th overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft. He agreed to a four-year rookie deal worth $5.2 million with the team before signing a one-year extension this September.

So far in five seasons, Mills has played in 43 total games and has recorded 7046 yards and 40 TDs passing.

Edited by Priyam Hazarika