With starting quarterback CJ Stroud not throwing at OTAs last week due to a reported minor shoulder muscle issue, it has allowed more reps for the other quarterbacks on the roster, including Davis Mills.
Mills, who is entering his last year with the club, is competing against the likes of Kedon Slovis and rookie Graham Mertz to keep the QB2 job. Thus far, the veteran quarterback is holding his own in OTAs.
According to Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle, Mills and Will Anderson Jr. were considered the standouts on the third day of OTAs on Friday. Alexander adds that Mills took the first and second team reps in the practice open to the media.
The veteran quarterback made a nice throw on a go route to wide receiver Jared Wayne in 7-on-7 drills, who got a step on Kamari Lassiter and scored a touchdown.
If you are Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans and new offensive coordinator Nick Caley, you like that Mills is taking control and keeping the offense on track. The 26-year-old Mills appeared in four games last season.
The former third-round pick completed 55.6 percent of his passes for 212 yards. The last time Davis was a starter was during the 2022 season, when he started in 15 games.
In his four-year career with the Texans, Mills has completed 62.6 percent of his passes for 6,167 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 25 interceptions. The Texans hope that Mills does not have to start in any games this upcoming season, but they also understand that they have a viable option sitting behind Stroud.
Given his experience in the NFL, Mills should be able to hold onto his backup job over the likes of Slovis and Mertz. However, the QB2 battle won’t be settled in OTAs. In fact, it will continue in mandatory minicamp, training camp, and the preseason.
All of that will be weighed together to figure out who will come out on top, but thus far, Mills is doing what a veteran is supposed to do during OTAs.