Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud and defensive back Jalen Pitre will both miss their third straight game due to concussions sustained in their loss to the Denver Broncos.
Head coach DeMeco Ryans said Tuesday that Stroud and Pitre would both be ruled out Thursday night against the Buffalo Bills.
"Both guys are progressing," Ryans said. "They're doing better. But right now with the short turnaround and the game on Thursday, we just don't have enough days for those guys to get ready."
With Stroud still out, it means Davis Mills will start for a third consecutive game.
Mills was 26-of-41 with a touchdown in last Sunday's win against the Tennessee Titans. He converted a critical third-and-long play to Nico Collins in the Texans' game-winning field goal drive. Mills also had the go-ahead touchdown run against the Jacksonville Jaguars the previous week in one of the greatest comebacks in franchise history.
"Davis just doing his job," Ryans said. "I know it gets heightened with the quarterback position. It's no different than any other position. You have to go out and execute the fundamentals and details of your job the right way. And that's what he's done. That's all we're asking him to do."
Without Pitre, the Texans are expected to once again rely on veteran Myles Bryant as their nickel defender. Bryant has 15 combined tackles over the last two games, including a tackle for loss against Tennessee.
"Myles has done a great job for us. Myles is one of our most dependable guys. A guy you can call up from the practice squad, any position we ask Myles to do, he can go out there and function and do it at a high level. Credit to Myles just for how he's wired, how he studies, does a great job of communicating, helping other guys on the field. Like, he's that coach out there for us. He's just such a smart player that knows where to be."
