DeMeco Ryans’ new era Houston Texans may have to borrow from the frustrating past to get through Week 15.
Rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud may be down with a concussion as the Texans face the Tennessee Titans Sunday at 12:00 p.m. Central Time at Nissan Stadium. If so, Houston will start former 2021 third-rounder Davis Mills for the 27th time.
While much outside focus has been on Stroud, internal attention has been given to Mills, like every player, throughout the year.
Ryans knows what the Texans have.
“Davis has done a good job with everything that we’ve asked him to do,” Ryans told reporters Wednesday. “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.”
Mills will be asked to lead Houston to a win over the Titans and keep the Texans’ playoff hopes alive. At 7-6, the Texans are part of the “in the hunt” category and are the provisional No. 8 seed — meaning they would miss the playoffs.
The former Stanford product led Houston to a 19-14 victory over Tennessee in Week 16 last season when the Titans were 7-7 and grasping on their evaporating lead in the AFC South. The loss helped Tennessee falter in Week 18 and lose their division lead and playoff spot entirely.
Experience can be the best teacher.
Said Ryans: “If you’ve been there, you’ve done it and you’re not making the moment bigger than it should be. Experience helps us all. So, you would like to think that experience would definitely help out.”
Mills went 17-of-28 for 178 yards, a touchdown, an interception, and posted a 72.6 passer rating in the win over Tennessee.
