The Texans only have one option available at quarterback, other than Stroud. That is Davis Mills, the QB2 for Houston. Graham Mertz has been ruled out for the matchup against the Patriots, so if Ryans wants to take Stroud out of the game, Mills is the only alternative.

Obviously, subbing out the franchise quarterback in a road, elimination game is much easier said than done in the NFL. However, with Houston’s defense playing lights out but being left on an island by Stroud’s four first-half interceptions, it makes sense for Ryans to wonder if calling Mills’ number is the right move. Desperate times call for desperate measures, and a quarterback change in the Divisional Round fits that description perfectly.

Mills’ numbers in 2025

Houston has already had to resort to Mills before in the 2025 NFL season. As Stroud went down with an injury, Mills’ number was called up. In his three starts during Stroud’s absence, Mills led the Texans to a perfect 3-0 record including wins over the Jacksonville Jaguars and Buffalo Bills—both playoff teams.

Through six appearances (three starts), Mills has thrown 91 completions for 915 yards, five touchdowns, and one interception. Meanwhile, through one game and a half in the 2025 postseason, Stroud has thrown for just two touchdowns and five interceptions, while fumbling five times (losing two of them).

NFL record for most INTs in a playoff game by one QB

Following the disastrous first half at Gillette Stadium, Stroud is set to face a two-way dilemma. The quarterback out of the Ohio State University can either make history by overcoming the struggles, or he can set a new record for most interceptions thrown in an NFL Playoffs game. Though Stroud’s four first-half turnovers led to memes and reactions all over social media, it has been anything but funny to the Texans, whose season is now hanging on by a thread.

According to Pro Football Reference, there is a four-way tie for the record. Frank Filchock (1946), Bobby Layne (1954), Norm Van Brocklin (1955), and Brett Favre (2002) have all thrown six interceptions in a postseason game. However, the latter is the only who has done so in the Super Bowl era. Stroud has now matched the Texans’ franchise record held by Brian Hoyer, who threw four turnovers in the 2016 Wild Card matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs.

We’re talking about the Texans’ standout wide receiver, Tank Dell, who was forced to leave in the third quarter of the game after a collision with a teammate and Chiefs cornerback.

Ryans provided an update on Dell’s condition after the contest, revealing that the receiver had suffered a significant knee injury. “It hurts to see him go down like that,” Ryans said, visibly frustrated. “He was having a fantastic game, playing really well for us. He was in a great rhythm. Right now, we just want to keep him in our thoughts and prayers.”

Dell’s injury adds to the Texans’ growing list of setbacks. The team had already been coping with the loss of wide receiver Stefon Diggs, who sustained an ACL injury earlier this season. Houston is now hoping that Dell’s injury is not as severe as feared, and that they can get him back on the field soon.

In the meantime, Ryans is focused on finding a new playmaking partner for rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud. The connection between Stroud and Dell had been a bright spot for the Texans this season, helping them clinch their division title and position themselves at 12th in the NFL standings.

As the Texans head into a crucial matchup against the Baltimore Ravens on Wednesday at home, C.J. Stroud’s resilience will be key. The rookie has shown impressive maturity throughout the season, and now he must adjust to a new offensive dynamic as he leads the team in Dell’s absence.

Who could step up to replace Tank Dell in the upcoming games?

Tank Dell will likely be sidelined beyond Wednesday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens, leaving the Texans with a significant gap to fill. As a result, Houston must quickly find solutions. One immediate answer could be increasing the involvement of John Metchie III in the offense. C.J. Stroud has shown confidence in Metchie III’s abilities, having already developed a strong rapport with him on the field.

In addition to Metchie III, wide receivers Steven Sims and Xavier Hutchinson are expected to see more playing time in Dell’s absence. With Dell’s injury creating a void, these players will be called upon to step up and contribute.

But it’s not just about the players; head coach DeMeco Ryans will need to adjust his offensive strategy as well. To maintain the efficiency of the passing game, Ryans may have to alter the team’s game plan to account for Dell’s loss and ensure that Stroud can continue to thrive.

Recently, Stroud clarified what he said to Williams after the game, where both quarterbacks delivered relatively solid performances. Among the things Stroud mentioned was the respect he has for Caleb Williams.

“I had some of the best advice given to me last year and me and Caleb, I was not trying to treat him like I was trying to ‘little bro’ him or nothing,” Stroud explained. “He knows that, too. I have a ton of respect for him. I told him I have respect for him. But I had so many guys come up to me after games last year and that meant the world to me that those guys even thought about giving me advice. So, I just try to give back to what the game is giving to me. So, I wish him the best.”

CJ Stroud seems to be passing on the same kind of mentorship he received during his rookie season, despite he and Williams being nearly the same age. He made it clear he only wished the best for the Bears’ young quarterback, hoping Williams could find his rhythm just as Stroud did in his early NFL days.

“I want him to do amazing in this league. I think he will. I think that he’ll get his groove, and once you get your rhythm—I didn’t get my rhythm until like Week 3, Week 4. So, I can see his game picking up from here. I don’t think he was trying to be any type of way, he was just upset that they lost. I totally understand. I have a ton of respect for that guy. I want him to do extremely well just like any other guy until we play on that day. And after the game, we can be cool. But I’m definitely rooting for him and want to see him do extremely well.”

Williams and Stroud in Week 2

Week 2 marked the second game of the 2024 NFL season for both players. It was also Caleb Williams’ second official outing as the Chicago Bears quarterback. While Williams has yet to throw a touchdown, he showed notable improvement in passing yards, totaling 174 compared to 93 in Week 1.

Stroud, who has now played 17 NFL games, had another strong showing in Week 2. Like Williams, he increased his passing yards, finishing with 260, up 20 from Week 1. Stroud also threw for one touchdown, bringing his total to three for the season and 26 overall.

Williams spent one season with the Oklahoma Sooners, ending with a 5-2 record after 11 games. His final two college seasons were with the USC Trojans, where he started all 26 games and achieved an 18-8 overall record.

In a recent press conference, C.J. Stroud, offered high praise for Caleb Williams, the Chicago Bears’ new quarterback. Stroud described Williams as a dynamic playmaker who excels at extending plays and making impressive throws. He emphasized Williams’ toughness and ability to take hits, highlighting the qualities that make him a standout talent.

Stroud’s comments underscore his belief that Williams has a bright future ahead. “He’s definitely a playmaker, somebody who can expend plays and make all the cool throws, a tough player, takes hits,” Stroud said on Wednesday. “And [he’s] really just really talented, so I definitely do think that he has great things coming in his career and I definitely do think he’ll get his rhythm going.”

Williams’ NFL Debut

In his NFL debut, Williams faced the Titans in what turned out to be a hard-fought victory for the Chicago Bears. Despite a defensive-heavy game and not throwing any touchdowns, Williams helped secure a 24-17 win. He finished the game with 93 passing yards, completing 14 of 29 passes, was sacked twice, and rushed for 15 yards. It was a solid start for his professional career, with the second half of the game being crucial for the Bears’ win.

Upcoming Match for Williams

Following the win against the Titans, the Chicago Bears will face off against the Houston Texans in Week 2. This matchup will see Caleb Williams trying to add another win to his record, but this time on the road. The game is scheduled for Sunday, September 15, at 8:20 PM (ET), and will be an intriguing contest as Williams goes up against C.J. Stroud and the Texans.

Patrick Mahomes is widely regarded as the best quarterback in the league, given his status as the reigning MVP and his role in guiding the Kansas City Chiefs to the title last season. This year he’s had a strong start, with his team boasting a 2-1 record.

The lone defeat came in Week 1 against the Detroit Lions, where the primary reason for the one-point loss was the dropped passes by his Chiefs teammates. Mahomes has consistently performed at a high level, but he doesn’t hold the top spot in passing yards per game entering week 4.

There are five quarterbacks who currently surpass him in this statistical category. He currently ranks sixth, averaging 267.7 passing yards per game. He finds himself trailing Kirk Cousins, Tua Tagovailoa, Justin Herbert, Matthew Stafford, and CJ Stroud in this particular figure.

Top 5 Quarterbacks in Passing Yards per Game

It’s worth noting that the Chiefs have a better win-loss record than all of them, except for the 3-0 Miami Dolphins. However, when it comes to individual statistics, he falls behind the aforementioned quarterbacks.

Cousins ranks first despite the Vikings lost every match they have played thus far. His 358.3 passing yards per game is largely due to the team’s terrible run game, with the need of eliminating point deficit as the other explanation. This season also has a shocking presence among the best.

Tagovailoa follows right behind with 341.3 in a high-powered offense, as well as the third-placed Justin Herbert boasting 313. Stafford holds the fourth position with 303.3 passing yards, but the most intriguing name is C.J. Stroud of the Texans being fifth thanks to his average of 302.

How Old Is C.J. Stroud?

C.J. Stroud is 21 years old.

Quarterbacks are always the focus point in every draft. This year the discussion has Young and Stroud as the top players, with Will Levis and Anthony Richardson appearing in the next tier. Although when it comes to accomplishments, the first two are far away from the rest.

Stroud had unbelievable performances the last two seasons playing for Ohio State. His stats rank very high in the history of the Buckeyes, so it makes sense all the chatter about him being a potential franchise QB. His projection means it is worth to know more about his age, height, weight, full name, parents, and social media.

How old is CJ Stroud?

CJ Stroud is 21 years old. He was born on October 3, 2001. His place of birth was Rancho Cucamonga, California, United, States.

How tall is CJ Stroud?

CJ Stroud is 6’3” or 1.90m tall.

How much does CJ Stroud weigh?

CJ Stroud weighs 214 lbs. or 97 kg.

What is CJ Stroud’s full name?

CJ Stroud’s full name is Coleridge Bernard Stroud IV. His name was originally given to his great-grandfather inspired in a Greek philosopher from the 1800s, according to Stephen Means of Cleveland.com.

Who is CJ Stroud’s father?

CJ Stroud didn’t have an easy childhood by any means. CJ has two brothers and one sister that are all older than him. His mother Kimberley raised them by herself a big part of their lives because of the legal issues his father Coleridge Bernard Stroud III. CJ’s father was a pastor when the quarterback was growing up, but he has been incarcerated since Stroud was 13 years old.

“C.J.’s father, Coleridge Bernard Stroud III, is serving a 38-year prison sentence in upstate California. He pleaded guilty in 2015 to charges of carjacking, kidnapping, robbery and misdemeanor sexual battery stemming from a drug-related incident that ended with his evading police by jumping into the San Diego Bay”, Ross Dellenger of Sports Illustrated wrote last year.

Does CJ Stroud have any social media?

CJ Stroud is on Instagram at @cj7stroud, where he has 270,000 followers despite having only 29 posts there.