If you’re asking who is the QB for the Houston Texans right now, the answer is C.J. Stroud. But honestly, if you’ve been watching the 2025-26 season, you know it hasn't exactly been a straight line to the top. Stroud is the face of the franchise, the guy who just broke John Elway’s record for wins by a top-two pick in their first three seasons, and the man who just led Houston to a 30-6 thumping of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card round.
But man, things got weird for a minute there in November.
The Stroud Era is officially in full swing
Stroud isn't just "the starter." He’s the engine. After being picked second overall out of Ohio State in 2023, he basically saved a Houston franchise that had been wandering in the quarterback desert since the Deshaun Watson era ended in a mess of trades and legal depositions.
Heading into the 2026 Divisional Round against the New England Patriots, Stroud is sitting on a 28-18 career record as a starter. He’s 24 years old, standing 6'3", and honestly, he looks like he’s playing Madden on rookie mode half the time. He finished the 2025 regular season with 19 touchdowns and 8 interceptions in 14 starts.
Wait, why only 14 starts?
That’s where the drama comes in.
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Who is the QB for the Houston Texans when Stroud is out?
Back in November 2025, the Texans hit a massive speed bump. During a game against the San Francisco 49ers, Stroud took a nasty hit and landed in concussion protocol. The team was sitting at 3-5. Fans were spiraling. It felt like the season was heading down the drain.
Enter Davis Mills.
You remember Mills, right? The guy everyone thought was just a "bridge" QB before Stroud arrived. Well, Mills stepped in and went absolute God-mode for three weeks. He led the team to a 3-0 record during Stroud’s absence, including big-time wins over the Jaguars and Bills.
- Davis Mills 2025 Stats (Filling in): 915 yards, 5 TDs, 1 INT.
- The Vibe: He saved the season.
When Stroud finally cleared protocol and came back, the Texans didn't just win; they went on a nine-game tear. They haven’t lost a game since Stroud returned to the lineup. It’s the kind of momentum that makes people in Houston start booking Super Bowl flights to New Orleans.
The Current Depth Chart (January 2026)
If you look at the sideline during the playoffs, you’re going to see three names.
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- C.J. Stroud (Starter): The undeniable King of H-Town. He’s #7.
- Davis Mills (Backup): The most overqualified backup in the league right now. He actually missed the flight to the Steelers game because his wife was giving birth to their son, but he caught a private flight and made it to the stadium just in time for kickoff. That’s dedication.
- Graham Mertz (Third String): The rookie out of Florida. He was a sixth-round pick in the 2025 draft. He hasn’t seen the field yet, but he beat out a bunch of veterans in training camp to keep that spot.
What most people get wrong about Stroud’s 2025 season
If you just look at the box scores, you might think Stroud took a step back from his insane rookie year. His completion percentage was around 64.5%, and his yardage was a bit lower than that 4,108-yard explosion in 2023.
But context matters.
The 2025 Texans became a defensive juggernaut under DeMeco Ryans. Stroud didn't have to throw for 400 yards every week because the defense was busy holding teams to 10 points. In the Wild Card win against Pittsburgh, the defense actually scored two touchdowns themselves. Stroud looked a little "shaky" or "rusty" in that game—his own words, basically—but he did the "ordinary stuff" well enough to win 30-6 on the road.
He’s learning to be a game manager when he needs to be, and a gunslinger when he has to be. That’s growth.
Why this matters for the 2026 playoffs
The Texans are heading to New England for the Divisional Round. Houston has never won a road game in the Divisional Round. Seriously. 0-6 all-time. They’ve been crushed by the Ravens, the Chiefs, and the Patriots (twice) in this exact spot.
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But they didn't have C.J. Stroud back then.
The Patriots are starting rookie Drake Maye, who has been incredibly impressive. It’s a battle of the young titans. If you’re betting on this game, you’re betting on whether Stroud can overcome the "mental errors" that haunted him in the Wild Card round. He refused to run the ball a few times when he had open grass, likely because he’s still a bit wary after that November concussion.
Actionable Insights for Texans Fans
- Watch the Injury Report: Nico Collins (concussion) and Jawhar Jordan (ankle) are both questionable for the New England game. Stroud is a lot better when he has his WR1.
- Expect more Nick Chubb: Since Joe Mixon went down with a foot injury, the Texans have been leaning on a rotation, but Nick Chubb has been getting more "garbage time" carries to stay fresh.
- The "Home" Factor: Even though the game is in Foxborough, Stroud just proved he can handle a hostile road environment in Pittsburgh. Don't let the "road curse" scare you off.
The reality is that C.J. Stroud is the QB for the Houston Texans for the next decade. Unless something catastrophic happens, the debate about "who is the starter" is dead and buried. The only question now is how many rings he can put on his fingers before he retires.
Go check the latest betting lines for the Texans-Patriots game. Most Vegas books have the Texans as slight road underdogs, which is exactly where this team thrives. Keep an eye on the weather in Foxborough—Stroud’s California/Ohio State roots will be tested in that January wind.
Next Steps:
Confirm the final status of Nico Collins on the official injury report before kickoff on Saturday. If he's out, expect Stroud to lean heavily on Jayden Higgins and Dalton Schultz in the intermediate passing game.