Texans rookie QB Mills to start vs Panthers
Rookie Davis Mills will start at quarterback for the Houston Texans on Thursday night against the Carolina Panthers with Tyrod Taylor out with a hamstring injury.
Coach David Culley announced the decision Tuesday and said Taylor would be inactive. Later Tuesday the Texans placed Taylor on injured reserve which means that he must miss at least three games.
Culley said the Texans plan to promote Jeff Driskel from the practice squad to back up Mills against the Panthers (2-0).
Taylor was injured in the first half of Houston’s 31-21 loss to Cleveland on Sunday and didn’t return after halftime. Mills, a third-round pick from Stanford, took over and threw for 102 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
Deshaun Watson was not an option to fill in in the wake of Taylor’s injury after Culley said Monday that he would be inactive for
Thursday’s game just as he has been for the first two games.
Watson has been listed as inactive/not injury-related following his trade request and after 22 women filed lawsuits alleging sexual assault or harassment.
Before Taylor was put on IR, Culley said the Texans (1-1) could explore signing another quarterback next week if Taylor remains out.
Rookie receiver Nico Collins was also placed on injured reserve Tuesday. Collins, who was a thirdround pick in this year’s draft, has a shoulder injury.
Browns’ Landry on IR, receiver will miss at least 3 games
CLEVELAND » For the first time in his NFL career, Browns wide receiver Jarvis Landry will miss a game because of an injury. And not just one. Landry was placed on injured reserve Tuesday with a sprained knee ligament, meaning he must sit out a minimum of three games before he can be activated. At this point, it’s not clear when the fivetime Pro Bowler will be back.
A model of consistency
and durability as a pro, Landry got hurt after catching a short pass and picking up 9 yards on the second play from scrimmage in Sunday’s 31-21 win over the Houston Texans.
On Monday, coach Kevin Stefanski said Landry was “week to week” and that it was still not clear whether Landry would go on IR.
The 28-year-old Landry will now be sidelined for games against Chicago, Minnesota and the Los Angeles Chargers before he can return, and it’s possible he could be out longer depending on the severity of his sprained medial collateral ligament.
Landry had never missed a game for any reason
in eight years before he was forced to sit one in 2020 because of COVID-19 contact tracing protocols.
Because of this injury, Landry’s streak of catching at least two passes ended at 111 straight games — the fourth-longest streak in history. Landry has six receptions for 80 yards and two rushes for 13 yards and a touchdown in 2021.
Roethlisberger, Watt among growing list of Steelers injuries
PITTSBURGH » So much for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ very brief run with good health.
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, outside linebackers T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith, wide receiver
Diontae Johnson and cornerback Joe Haden and inside linebacker Devin Bush are among a growing list of players dealing with issues as the Steelers (1-1) prepare to host Cincinnati (1-1) on Sunday. Defensive lineman Tyson Alualu is now on injured reserve after undergoing surgery Monday on his fractured right ankle.
Coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that Roethlisberger is dealing with an injury to his left pectoral, leaving his participation in practice this week in question. Tomlin wasn’t sure when Roethlisberger got hurt, though he did not miss a snap during a 26-17 loss to Las Vegas last week.
Watt, Highsmith, Bush and Haden are all dealing with groin injuries. Haden and Bush were both inactive on Sunday after testing the injuries during pregame. Watt sustained his injury in the second quarter and watched from the sideline in sweatpants as Las Vegas quarterback Derek Carr lit the Steelers up for 263 yards and two touchdowns after halftime. Highsmith was on the field during the Raiders’ final drive.
Tomlin did not rule any of them out for Cincinnati’s visit to Heinz Field. He sounded less optimistic about Johnson, who injured his knee at the end of a short gain on the game’s final snap.