The Houston Texans didn’t claim former Carolina Panthers quarterback Baker Mayfield this week, but they’ll get a fresh start when the Texans visit the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. Head coach Lovie Smith announced Wednesday that the Texans are returning to their original starting quarterback, Davis Mills.
“Davis will start for us this week and we expect two weeks of sideways watching to help out,” Smith said, via KPRC 2 Houston.
Mills was benched for Kyle Allen ahead of Houston’s Week 12 game against the Miami Dolphins, but Allen didn’t provide the kind of spark the Texans were hoping for. In two starts against the Dolphins and Cleveland Browns, Allen threw for 416 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions while being outscored 57-29.
Mills, a 2021 Stanford third-round pick, started 21 total games for the Texans, winning just three. This season, he is averaging 214.4 passing yards per game and has thrown for 11 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. There was optimism heading into this season that Mills could prove to the franchise that he can be a legit starter in this league, but the Texans will now likely own the No. 1 draft pick for the second time. over the past nine years.
The Texans are currently 16-point underdogs to the Cowboys this weekend, according to Caesars Sportsbook. The line has been put in a bit, but if it holds, it will be the biggest spread of the 2022 regular season.