C.J. Stroud vs. Davis Mills In QB Battle; Who's Winning? Texans Minicamp Notebook

C.J. Stroud proves to have the upper hand against Davis Mills during the Houston Texans' two-day mandatory minicamp.

HOUSTON — Quarterback Davis Mills stood in front of his locker after leading the Houston Texans to a 32-31 Week 18 victory over the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium and with conviction stated he felt he played well enough to retain his starting job for another season while expressing that his best football days are "still ahead."

During the first two days of the Texans' mandatory minicamp at the Houston Methodist Training Center, Mills displayed improvements and qualities you would like to see from a potential starter.

His best day came on Tuesday when he threw four touchdown passes. Mills' finest pass came when he connected with rookie wideout Jared Wayne at the back of the end zone's left pylon.

Mills' performance this week might give some franchises the confidence to allow him to enter training camp as the starter. But rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud has looked every bit worth the Texans' top selection of the NFL Draft. And the rookie seems to be winning the battle.

"For me with the quarterback, it's all about confidence," coach DeMeco Ryans said. "We want him to rip it. If you see it, go through your progression. If you see it, make it happen. 

"We understand every ball is not going to be perfect, you're not going to protect it all the time. I never want our quarterback playing afraid to make a mistake. I want everybody playing to their maximum potential and attacking everything that we do."

Stroud spent minicamp taking first-team reps, which created a difference from OTAs, when the snaps were split with Mills. And to our eyes, Stroud illustrated why he has an early lead for the quarterback competition.

Houston's offense appeared more fluid when Stroud was under center. He found the end zone by using several different wide receivers, though when it comes to moving the chains, Stroud and Nico Collins have clearly developed early chemistry.  

Day 2 of camp featured Stroud throwing his first interception in practice. But on the next drive, Stroud redeemed himself by leading the Texans down the field, which resulted in an 18-yard touchdown pass to tight end Dalton Schultz. 

"For a quarterback you have to have a short memory — you can’t let one bad play become three bad plays," Ryans said. "Put that behind you. You’re going to make some bad plays, but as long as it doesn’t matriculate into other bad plays, then I’m fine with that. 

"To see him and see his resolve, the way he was able to come back, compete, drive the offense down for a touchdown there at the end of practice – that was pretty cool to see."

Derek Stingley Jr., entire secondary posed for breakout season 

Eric Murray was the beneficiary of Stroud's first interception and ran it back for a pick 6. Murray was starting next to Jalen Pitre due to the absence of Jimmie Ward, who missed the two-day practice period due to personal reasons. 

Murray's interception may have been the most prominent highlight for the Texans' secondary. But it was a sample of how well Houston's defensive backs played throughout minicamp. 

"We’ve got some young, starving guys right now," Shaquill Griffin said. "These guys are hungry, and I love that because the type of energy they bring is so contagious, and that’s the type of secondary that you need to bring this defense along."

Over the course of the workouts, nearly every snap led to a member of Houston's defensive backfield flying around the ball and making stops. Derek Stingley Jr. appears to be on the verge of a breakout season, as Ryans and defensive coordinator Matt Burke have constructed a scheme that fits his skill set in a way that looks superior to 2022's setup.

Biggest concern

Kenyon Green is still recovering from offseason knee surgery. He missed mandatory minicamp and voluntary OTAs due to the rehab, and his absence could hinder his development ahead of his sophomore season.

When the Texans took Green with the No. 15 pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, the Houston native came to the franchise with tons of potential. But injuries have derailed the start of his pro career.

Offensive lineman Michael Deiter and Juice Scruggs took reps at left guard during the two-day camp and looked solid playing next to Laremy Tunsil. Meanwhile, Ryans was noncommittal about Green's return by the start of training camp.

"We’ll see where Kenyon is come training camp," Ryans said. "He has to be ready to go, and the work he puts in over the next few weeks will see if he’s ready and ready to go out and compete." 

QUICK HITS

- With rumors of him seeking a new deal, veteran defensive back Steven Nelson did participate in minicamp practice. He spent most of his time playing with the second team, while newcomer Griffin started next to Stingley Jr. during scrimmage-like work.

- Will Anderson Jr. played at both ends of the defensive line. He was quick when coming off the line of scrimmage and recorded a pair of sacks against the Texans' second-team offensive line. Anderson struggled a bit to get around Laremy Tunsil and Tytus Howard, which goes into the improved strength the rookie defensive lineman needs to try to achieve.

- The addition of Shaq Mason has made the right side of the Texans' offensive line the strongest. Mason and Tytus Howard make for a great one-two punch, and they displayed their potential during Day 2 of camp. Howard and Mason did not allow a quarterback pressure or sack. They spent most of their time going head-to-head against Will Anderson Jr., Maliek Collins and Jerry Hughes. 

Final words:

"For our coaches over the next few weeks, I think it’s time for a little rest and relaxation. Especially for me. I’ve been going pretty non-stop since our last playoff game. It’s a time for us to have the opportunity to spend more time with your family, go and visit family that you haven’t seen a while … So just a time to reconnect personally with your family." — Ryans

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You can follow Coty M. Davis on Twitter at @CotyDavis_24

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