Steelers

After not traveling with team, Texans backup QB Davis Mills available vs. Steelers

Chris Adamski
By Chris Adamski
2 Min Read Jan. 12, 2026 | 3 weeks Ago
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Despite not traveling with the team to Pittsburgh, Davis Mills arrived at Acrisure Stadium and was available to serve as the Houston Texans’ backup quarterback for Monday night’s wild-card round playoff game.

Though Mills is clearly No. 2 on the Houston QB depth chart, he has 29 career NFL starts and went 3-0 filling in for starter C.J. Stroud this season. The Texans on Sunday had listed Mills’ game status as questionable for personal reasons.

Mills’ wife gave birth to a son last week, and Mills spent extra time with his growing family.

The Texans’ healthy inactives were receiver Braxton Berrios, running back Jawhar Jordan, cornerback Alijah Huzzie, linebacker Christian Harris and former Penn State interior offensive lineman Juice Scruggs.

With Mills available, rookie Graham Mertz was designated as the No. 3 “emergency” quarterback.

No Wilson, Johnson again

A pair of recent third-round picks were again scratched for the Steelers. The team chose to make receiver Roman Wilson and running back Kaleb Johnson inactive.

Johnson, a rookie, sat out the final three games of the regular season. Wilson did not play in four of the Steelers’ final five games.

Also inactive Monday were outside linebacker Jeremiah Moon, offensive lineman Jack Driscoll, defensive tackle Logan Lee and cornerback Tre Flowers.

Interestingly, Flowers earlier Monday was announced as a practice-squad elevation for Monday’s game.

Rookie Will Howard was in uniform as the “emergency” third quarterback.

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About the Writers

Chris Adamski is a TribLive reporter who has covered primarily the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2014 following two seasons on the Penn State football beat. A Western Pennsylvania native, he joined the Trib in 2012 after spending a decade covering Pittsburgh sports for other outlets. He can be reached at cadamski@triblive.com.

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