During the Houston Texans’ “Thursday Night Football” battle against the Buffalo Bills in Week 12, quarterback Davis Mills scrambled on a broken play. Even though the whistle blew on the play, the league could have something to say about it.
Mills and the Texans’ offense started slowly, but they eventually found their rhythm to take a 10-9 lead in the first half.
Moreover, he shook off a play that could have spelled bad news for the Texans.
Davis Mills Forces Deone Walker Into Potentially Costly Decision During Bills-Texans
GettyJoe Andreessen #44, Deone Walker #96, and T.J. Sanders #98 of the Buffalo Bills on the sideline for the national anthem before facing the New York Jets.
The play occurred during the second quarter, the Texans’ first possession of the frame and their fourth of the game. Mills went to hand the ball off to running back Woody Marks, but the rookie went in the opposite direction.
Instead of handing it off, Mills took it himself, gaining 5 yards on the play but having it wiped out in favor of a 15-yard facemask penalty on Bills defensive tackle Deone Walker.
That penalty will most likely cost Walker.
The NFL releases a list of player fines for infractions during the previous week’s slate of games. That includes plays that did not draw flags during the contests in which they occurred. There is also a list of baseline fines players can expect for incurring various penalties.
According to the NFL Football Operations portal, the fine for a facemask is $11,593 for the first infraction and $17,389 on the second.
Walker, the 109th overall pick of the 2025 draft, avoided incurring any fines for 11 weeks.
He had also avoided getting flagged, doubling up in Week 12 against the Texans, who took a 20-16 lead into halftime.
C.J. Stroud Expected Back for Texans in Week 13
GettyC.J. Stroud #7 of the Houston Texans on the field before a game against the Buffalo Bills.
Mills completed 11 of 21 passes for 122 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions to give the Texans the first-half lead. He entered the game having led the Texans to back-to-back wins, defeating the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans.
Defeating the Bills would be quite the statement from the 2021 third-round pick. However, Mills’ efforts could all be for not as far as being the Texans’ QB is concerned.
Typical starter C.J. Stroud is expected back from concussion protocol in Week 13.
“Had the game been on Sunday instead of Thursday, C.J. Stroud likely would have played,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on “TNF Prime” on November 20. “He’s doing well. He is expected to be on the sidelines tonight. Just not enough time to be cleared for this one.”
The Texans will visit the Indianapolis Colts in Week 13, in a game that could hold even more weight when the two teams meet again in Week 18 in Houston.
Davis Mills Could Draw Trade Interest This Offseason
GettyDavis Mills #10 of the Houston Texans reacts against the Tennessee Titans.
Mills entered Thursday’s tilt having thrown for 563 yards, 3 TDs, and 1 INT on 61.6% completion in Stroud’s place as the Texans’ starter. The No. 67 overall pick of the 2021 draft, Mills is also signed through the 2026 season after inking a one-year, $7 million extension.
Mills was 7-19-1 as a starter with a 6,893-38-26 line on 62.3% completion before facing the Bills on “Thursday Night Football,” and he struggled to begin the contest.
However, his recent performance with a built-out Texans roster could earn trade interest.
The Texans would be faced with a decision on a player they undoubtedly needed amid Stroud’s concussion-related absence. However, another team, one that may be out of position to draft one of the top rookies next April, could make the Texans an offer they cannot refuse for Mills.
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