With Texans QB C.J. Stroud in concussion protocol, Davis Mills prepping to start against Titans: ‘Looking forward to it’

HOUSTON – Texans backup quarterback Davis Mills has been preparing to start all week against the Tennessee Titans with the first-team offense and is poised to make his first start since engineering a comeback win over the Indianapolis Colts in the final game last season.

Texans rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud, a frontrunner for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year who ranks third in the Pro Bowl balloting among all players, remains under the NFL concussion protocol and hasn’t been cleared to return to practice. Until he is medically cleared, he’s ineligible under NFL rules to practice or play in a game.

Stroud is making steady progress and feeling a lot better, per sources, but he hasn’t reached a point in his recovery where he is allowed to practice. So, Mills is getting ready for his first regular-season start since beating the Indianapolis Colts in the final game of last season with that victory costing the Texans the top overall pick of the draft and setting the stage for Stroud’s arrival via the second overall selection.

“I think just, with time comes reps and experience and the amount of opportunity that I’ve had, the experience I’ve been able to build over these last couple of years has made me a better player and I’m looking forward to displaying that,” Mills said Thursday after practice. “Obviously, first-string reps are building reps with the guys who you haven’t really had the opportunity to work with all year. We’re still running our offense. I’ve been able to visualize and see them do things all year long. It’s pretty easy to jump in and get on the same page with those guys and make sure everything is clicking.

“Obviously, it’s a tough matchup. It’s a divisional opponent. It’s a big focus on getting the win regardless because we’re at a really critical point of the season. I think every quarterback in the league, the mindset is if I’m not starting the game I’m going to prepare like I’m starting. Just all-around, I try to make myself a complete quarterback and make plays. What it boils down to is it’s about efficiency and spreading the football around and letting the playmakers make plays.”

The last time that Mills started a game, he engineered a dramatic comeback victory over the Colts as he threw a touchdown pass and two-point conversion pass to tight end Jordan Akins. He completed 22 of 38 passes for 298 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions for an 87.4 passer rating. He is 5-19-1 as a starter with 5,806 passing yards, 33 touchdowns and 25 interceptions for an 83.1 passer rating.

When asked how he has improved since his last NFL start, Mills replied: “Maturity and experience, I’ve been in the league another full year since I last had the opportunity to start, and I’m looking forward to it.”

Stroud got hurt on a late hit from New York Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams on Sunday where his helmet bounced off the MetLife Stadium artificial turf. Texans coach DeMeco Ryans emphasized the team will operate in a manner that’s based on his long-term health.

Ever since the concussion happened, the team has expected the starter to be Mills against the Titans.

“C.J., he’s getting a little bit better,” Ryans said Wednesday. “We’ll see how the week continues to go, but he’s still in the concussion protocol.”

Until Stroud passes a series of mandatory NFL tests, including a baseline neurological exam, he won’t be cleared to play.

Stroud was in visible pain and groggy after his helmet was slammed to the ground Sunday. Stroud was helped off the field by trainers and went to the locker room as he was placed under the NFL concussion protocol.

Stroud is not at the Texans’ training facility much this week to talk a lot with Mills to help him prepare.

“As much as he can right now, he’s still in the protocol so he hasn’t been in the building too much,” Mills said. “C.J. has always been the guy who’s going to be extremely generous and make sure his teammates are in the best spot they can be to go out and execute on gameday.”

Under NFL concussion protocol, to return to play, there are five phases of participation: Phase 1 (symptom limited activity); Phase 2 (aerobic exercise), Phase 3 (football-specific exercise); Phase 4 (club-based non-contact training drills); Phase 5 (full football activity-clearance).

“I don’t think many guys have come back the following week after a concussion,” Ryans said. “You have to make sure, at the end of the day, no matter the position, no matter who the guy is, you have to make sure your guys are healthy and we are protecting guys and they’re right.

RELATED: Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud is in the NFL’s concussion protocol; Here’s what that means

“When it comes to the concussion and the head injuries, we have to make sure we’re protecting all of our guys. It’s more about their long-term health, as opposed to everybody gets excited about the next game and the next opportunity. We care about these guys as men off the field and making sure their health is the utmost importance to us.”

Wide receiver Nico Collins remains out of practice with a strained calf. Although Collins has been planning to play Sunday, per sources, and is making progress in his recovery, the last time he strained a calf this season, he missed one game.

Texans linebacker Blake Cashman and cornerback Tavierre Thomas are out for at least this game and likely for a few weeks with strained hamstrings, per league sources. They didn’t practice Wednesday or Thursday.

Rookie defensive end Will Anderson Jr. (ankle) didn’t practice both days and is in a walking boot after suffering a high-ankle sprain, per league sources. He hasn’t missed a game all season, but that streak is in danger of ending this week as high-ankle sprains tend to linger.

Wide receivers Robert Woods (rest) and Noah Brown (rest, knee contusion) and offensive guard Shaq Mason (calf) are all participating Thursday. Linebacker Henry To’o’To’o (hamstring) was limited along with defensive tackle Maliek Collins (chest).

Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil returned to practice after a day of rest for his lingering knee injury.

Not practicing again: right tackle George Fant (hip), who might miss this game after playing hurt for weeks.

Texans tight end Dalton Schultz, who missed the past two games with a hamstring injury, is expected back this week. He participated fully. Free safety Jimmie Ward (shoulder contusion) is practicing.

A two-time Heisman Trophy finalist from Ohio State drafted second overall, Stroud passed for a season-low 91 yards in the 30-6 loss to the Jets. He had no touchdown passes and no interceptions.

Other quarterbacks have been cleared this season after sustaining a concussion including New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr and San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy.

“We’ll see how he goes throughout the week and hopefully he continues to feel better,” Ryans said of Stroud.

A former third-round draft pick from Stanford once ranked the top quarterback recruit in the nation, Mills has passed for 33 touchdowns and 25 interceptions and is 5-19-1 as a starter. He was 1 for 5 against the Jets.

“Davis has done a good job with everything that we’ve asked him to do,” Ryans said. “He’s done a really good job of just leading in his own right, just seeing him on our scout team, just seeing how he helps out, helps us out with the defensive looks. He’s done a really good job of what he’s been asked to do.”

Losing Stroud represents a significant blow to the Texans’ playoff hopes. Stroud entered Sunday’s game as the NFL passing yardage leader with 3,504 yards along with 20 touchdown passes and five interceptions, reviving a losing franchise into a contender.

“I was just telling somebody, he’s really like the light of our team,” Texans tight end Brevin Jordan said. “He’s a guy that’s came in here, brought a lot of moxy, a lot of swag, and to see him go down it’s tough. But it’s football, get ready to get back to it, next man got to be up, got to be ready to go.”

Williams hit Stroud with a lot of force, arriving late in the pocket as the second overall pick in the draft and two-time Heisman Trophy finalist from Ohio State delivered a pass.

Stroud passed for a season-low 91 yards as the Texans’ offense skidded to an abrupt halt without injured wide receivers Nico Collins, Tank Dell and tight end Dalton Schultz.

The hit was late but didn’t draw a flag. Following the game, Williams, one of the top defensive linemen in the NFL, made it clear on social media he had no ill intent against Stroud.

“I pray CJ is ok, everyone know I’m not a dirty player or trying to hurt a great, Elite QB like him or any player in the league,” Williams wrote. “I play hard and I play fair. Again I pray CJ is ok and wish him nothing but the best.”

Stroud’s injury immediately drew concern from teammates, who knelt in prayer beside him.

Stroud was on the ground for a while in the fourth quarter before steadying as he was helped to his feet and jogging off the field. He went inside the blue medical tent before going to the locker room for further evaluation. Then, the Texans announced he was being evaluated for a concussion.

Stroud was sacked four times and hit six times overall. He was under heavy duress Sunday. He was under pressure on 40 percent of his dropbacks, according to NextGen Stats. It was a rough day all-around for the Texans’ offense against an excellent Jets defense as Stroud completed just 10 of 23 passes.

“On the hit with C.J., we’ve got to block it better,” Ryans said. “We can’t allow them to get to our quarterback. We’ve got to block it better up front.”

When Stroud was replaced by Mills, the former starter completed 1 of 5 passes for four yards. He went 1 for 1 for 18 yards against the Denver Broncos when Stroud was evaluated for a concussion and quickly cleared.

The Texans had only 135 yards of total offense. Without Stroud, the Texans’ entire team felt the impact of his absence.

“Super tough,” Mills said. “I love that man. Obviously, it’s tough seeing him go down. I know the team felt that. The team wants to go out there and play for him. I’ve just got to step in and make sure there’s no drop off when I come in and play, like I tried to do at the end of this game. It’s just a tough day

“Of course, nothing changes in my terms of preparation. Going into the offense, even as the No. 2 this year, I’ve been preparing every week like I’m going into the game to start. So, I don’t think there should be any change in preparation. Hopefully, C.J. is going to be great and will bounce back from this. Regardless of what happens, I’ll be ready

The Texans’ only score was on a Devin Singletary touchdown run. Then, practice squad kicker Matt Ammendola missed the extra point.

The prospect of playing without Stroud, even for a week, is a lot for the Texans to absorb.

“Man, a lot,” Singletary said when asked about the impact of losing Stroud. “That’s our guy. That’s our leader. We’re all rallying behind him. Now, we’ve just got to be there for him. Hopefully it’s nothing too serious and we get him back soon.

The Texans have leaned heavily on Stroud during their resurgent season. He has led a pair of game-winning scoring drives and played a large part in boosting their relevance.

Texans wide receiver Robert Woods spoke briefly with Stroud after the game to check on him.

“I didn’t see the hit, just saw him on the ground,” Woods said. “Very instrumental to our offense being able to have an explosive passing game. It’s tough when we lose 7, but hopefully it’s not too serious. Davis is a great quarterback, able to make all the throws.

“First things first, it’s always prayers up that it’s nothing serious, but it’s always tough when you have a player go down, especially a quarterback, a leader of this offense, but we’ll see what it is. But, full confidence in Davis, if needed.”.

Cashman got hurt in Sunday’s game against the Jets. If Cashman, who has nine tackles for losses, one interception and two sacks, is out, the Texans would likely go with a three-linebacker alignment of Denzel Perryman at Mike, Jake Hansen at Sam and Christian Harris at Will.

Collins leads the Texans with a career-high 60 receptions for 1,004 yards and six touchdowns. Without Collins, the Texans’ passing game nosedived against the Jets while being sacked four times and hit six times overall. There wasn’t much separation created by the receiving corps without Collins.

If Collins is out, then the Texans would go with Brown, Woods, Xavier Hutchinson and John Metchie III as their primary wide receivers. They could elevate wide receiver Steven Sims Jr. from the practice squad.

“For the receivers, man, just play like we’ve been playing,” Ryans said. “Our receivers have done a great job all year. Just execute the routes, play with great speed, use your feet to get open, just do the techniques that we continue to coach our wide receivers. Those guys played well. They’ve been playing well all year, and I expect them to have a really good game on Sunday.”

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com.