Mills will return to a backup role Sunday in Indianapolis after C.J. Stroud cleared the concussion protocol Friday, Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

Coach Demeco Ryans made the announcement at the end of Week 13 prep, meaning Mills' time as the Texans' starting quarterback has come to a close for now. In three games spelling Stroud, Mills completed 69 of 116 passes for 719 yards, five touchdowns and one interception and had seven carries for 38 yards and one TD.

Mills could return to backup quarterback duties if C.J. Stroud (concussion) continues to progress ahead of Sunday's game against the Colts.

EDGE Analysis

Mills quarterbacked the Texans through three consecutive wins, putting the team back into the postseason conversation, but a cleared Stroud will resume his role as the starter, per Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle. Stroud was a full participant for a second consecutive practice Thursday, improving his chances to come out of the NFL's concussion protocol. The consecutive practices followed by clearance from an independent neurologist is required for Stroud to be officially cleared to play.

Mills completed 16 of 30 passes for 153 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions while adding two carries for four yards in the Texans' 23-19 win over the Bills on Thursday night.

EDGE Analysis

Mills' final line was far from fantasy-friendly, but the veteran backup was integral to the Texans' upset in what was his third straight start. Mills connected with Christian Kirk (two yards) and Jayden Higgins (eight yards) for his pair of second-quarter touchdowns, and he remained free of interceptions for a second consecutive start. Mills has led the Texans to a 3-0 mark while C.J. Stroud (concussion) has been sidelined, but the latter will return to the starting job in a Week 13 road matchup against the Colts if he's cleared to suit up.

Head coach DeMeco Ryans said that Mills will serve as the Texans' starting quarterback for Thursday's game against the Bills, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

EDGE Analysis

Though C.J. Stroud is in line to practice in some fashion Tuesday for the first time since sustaining a concussion in the Texans' Nov. 2 loss to the Broncos, he's not on track to clear the five-step protocol before Thursday and has been ruled out for a third straight game. As a result, Mills will direct the Houston offense once again after he completed 53 of 86 passes for 566 yards, three touchdowns and one interception to go along with five carries for 34 yards and another score in wins over the Jaguars and Titans during the past two weeks. Assuming Stroud experiences no recurring symptoms of the concussion in his return to practice, he could be in position to reclaim starting duties from Mills in the Texans' Week 13 game against the Colts on Nov. 30.

Mills completed 26 of 41 passes for 274 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions while adding two rushes for 14 yards in the Texans' 16-13 win over the Titans on Sunday.

EDGE Analysis

Mills put together another solid performance in his second start in place of C.J. Stroud (concussion) despite being subjected to plenty of pressure from what had been a porous Titans defense. Mills was taken down four times, but he also completed passes to eight different players while displaying good command of the offense. Mills capped the afternoon in fine fashion by leading a game-winning nine-play, 48-yard drive, and he's likely to draw another start in a Week 12 Thursday night home matchup against the Bills since Stroud may not be ready to play due to the short turnaround.

Mills will start Sunday's road contest against the Titans with C.J. Stroud (concussion) having been ruled out Thursday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

EDGE Analysis

Mills will draw at least one more start while Stroud works his way through the concussion protocol, and he could find himself in a similar position Week 12, when the Texans will face a short week of preparation before taking on the Bills on Thursday Night Football. After compiling 312 total yards and three touchdowns during Houston's comeback win over the Jaguars in Week 12, Mills has made a case for himself as a fantasy option for QB-needy teams, especially in deeper formats.

Mills is preparing to start Sunday's game at Tennessee with C.J. Stroud still in concussion protocol and absent from Wednesday's practice, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 Houston reports.

EDGE Analysis

Stroud reportedly still has concussion symptoms as of Monday/Tuesday, and his continued absence from practice suggests he's still in the early phases of concussion protocol. Mills led a brilliant comeback win over the Jaguars this past Sunday, finishing with 312 total yards and three TDs.

Mills completed 27 of 45 passes for 292 yards and two touchdowns with one interception in Sunday's 36-29 win over the Jaguars. He added 20 rushing yards and a TD on three carries.

EDGE Analysis

Making his first start of the season with C.J. Stroud (concussion) unavailable, Mills struggled through three quarters before coming to life in the fourth, hitting Jayden Higgins and Dalton Schultz for TDs before running in a 14-yard score of his own to complete a stunning comeback from a 29-10 deficit. Mills could return to the bench in Week 11 against the Titans if Stroud gets cleared to return, but if he gets a second start he likely won't need to be quite as busy.

Mills is slated to start Sunday's game against the Jaguars after Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said Wednesday that C.J. Stroud (concussion) "will be out," Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

EDGE Analysis

Mills entered Houston's 18-15 loss to the Broncos in Week 9 early in the second quarter in relief of Stroud. He finished with an unimpressive line, completing just 17 of 30 passes for 137 yards while rushing twice for seven yards. With Stroud in line to miss at least one more game while working to gain clearance from the concussion protocol, expect the Texans to lean on the strength of their defense and task Mills to hold down the fort as a game manager versus Jacksonville. Mills is on the fantasy radar only as a streamer in deeper formats that allow multiple quarterbacks to be started.

Mills completed 17 of 30 passes for 137 yards in Sunday's 18-15 loss to the Broncos. He added seven rushing yards on two carries.

EDGE Analysis

C.J. Stroud was knocked out of the game early in the second quarter and was diagnosed with a concussion, leaving the offense in the hands of Mills for the rest of the afternoon. The fifth-year QB was able to lead four scoring drives for the Texans but wasn't able to get the ball into the end zone, and that lack of TDs proved costly in the end. If Stroud isn't cleared through the concussion protocol in time to return in Week 10, Mills would get his first start of the season against the Jaguars.