Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud had to leave Sunday's game was sidelined Denver Broncos early after he sustained a hard hit to the head on the turf.
Stroud attempted to gain a first down but was forcefully tackled, causing his head to jolt backward onto the turf. The third-year quarterback was promptly escorted to the injury tent for concussion assessment and hasn't rejoined the game.
Therefore, the Texans will turn to their backup quarterback to try and pull off a huge win over the Broncos. Davis Mills is no stranger to the organization and is one of the more familiar backup quarterbacks in the league.
Here's a look at how Houston's QB depth chart stands.
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Texans QB lineup
| Rank | Player |
| 1. | C.J. Stroud |
| 2. | Davis Mills |
| 3. | Graham Mertz |
Stroud's Big Plays
Since his 2023 draft selection, Stroud has held the starting position for The Texans. Over the past three seasons, Stroud has played in a total of 40 regular-season games, missing just one contest in his career thus far.
This year, Stroud has accumulated 1,623 passing yards, thrown 11 touchdowns, and tossed five interceptions for The Texans, who currently hold a 3-4 record.
Davis Mills QB
Davis Mills, a seasoned quarterback who's spent his entire career with Houston, serves as Stroud's backup. Mills was selected by Houston in the third round of the 2021 NFL draft. After starting 26 games for The Texans over his initial two seasons, he's now serving as the backup quarterback.
Since 2023, Mills has appeared in 11 contests, amassing more than 400 passing yards, scoring two touchdowns, and throwing zero interceptions.
Mertz QB change
After six years of college football at Wisconsin and Florida, Graham Mertz was selected by The Texans in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL draft. Mertz's rookie season has seen him as the third-string quarterback, with no appearances in regular-season games to date.
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C.J. Stroud update
Stroud appeared to suffer a head injury after he landed hard on his helmet in a play. The third-year quarterback was immediately taken to the sidelines to be evaluated for a concussion.
Uh oh… CJ Stroud is down after that hit.#Texans #CJStroud #NFL pic.twitter.com/ZVKZ6h1we7
— Aggregate Sports (@AggregateSports) November 2, 2025
The Texans initially announced that Stroud was questionable to return as he was being evaluated by the medical staff. However, after later inspection, Stroud was ruled out for the game.