Mertz completed 14 of 16 pass attempts for 145 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's 26-7 preseason win over Detroit.

EDGE Analysis

Mertz started the preseason finale and engineered scoring drives on Houston's first three possessions. The rookie fifth-round draft pick appears to have secured the No. 3 quarterback job ahead of Kedon Slovis, who played the second half of Saturday's game. Mertz had followed Slovis in the first two preseason contests.

Mertz completed seven of 14 attempts for 27 yards and threw three interceptions in Saturday's 20-10 preseason loss to Minnesota.

EDGE Analysis

Mertz, a sixth-round draft pick out of the University of Florida in the 2025 NFL Draft, was the third quarterback used in the game following Davis Mills and Kedon Slovis. He entered in the middle of the third quarter and threw all three picks in the fourth quarter.