Steelers Must Consider Davis Mills as Quarterback of the Future After Rodgers’ Possible Retirement
The biggest uncertainty surrounding the Pittsburgh Steelers over the next six months will revolve around who the team's starting quarterback will be in 2026. 41-year old Aaron Rodgers has played well, but he has yet to announce on if he will return to Pittsburgh or retire following this season's conclusion. The Steelers will have a few options to choose from to replace Rodgers either through free agency, the 2026 NFL Draft, or turning to those already in-house. One NFL quarterback that could have his name thrown in the hat currently plays for the Houston Texans.
When Houston's starting quarterback, CJ Stroud, suffered a concussion in their Week 9 loss against the Denver Broncos, it felt as if their season was falling apart. At 3-5, the Texans turned to Davis Mills to lead the team in Stroud's absence, and he has surprisingly played like one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.
Mills has led the Texans to three straight wins to sneak them back into playoff contention, including a 23-19 win over the Buffalo Bills on Thursday night. Since taking over for the injured Stroud, Mills has thrown for 856 yards, five touchdowns, and just one interception, while also rushing for a score.
Mills' 2025 success is a small sample size, but taking a look at what his on-pace statistics looks like would definitely raise some eyebrows. Underdog posted to X showing what those stats would look like.
"Davis Mills 17-game pace as a starter: 4,590 passing yards, 40 passing TDs, 6 INT."
This isn't Mills' first shot as the Texans' starter. Mills started 26 games for Houston during the 2021 and 2022 seasons, however, it was a much different result. The Texans won just five games during that span, which ultimately gave them the second overall pick in the 2022 draft, which they would use to take Stroud.
Mills has looked like a completely different quarterback while filling in this season, and it may be a perfect opportunity for Mills to audition for other teams who may be searching for a quarterback in the offseason. Although Mills is under contract through the 2026 season, teams could bring him in via a trade, and that is something that Omar Khan should certainly consider.
Jason Brown from Netflix's Last Chance U has noticed Mills' excellent play, and he believes the former Stanford Cardinal might see a big pay day in his future.
"Davis Mills is getting paid somewhere! Arizona, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Jets, Dolphins, Minnesota should be calling," Brown posted to
X.
Mills certainly isn't the flashiest name out of the available quarterbacks, but he very well could be the best available option for Khan and the Steelers if they decide to bring in a veteran quarterback.
Steelers Have Limited Options At Quarterback In 2026 If Rodgers Retires
If Rodgers does indeed decide to retire following the 2025 season, the Steelers will find themselves in a very difficult situation. Although it has been rumored that the team will not bring in a veteran quarterback in the 2026 offseason, Mills is one of the few names that could be seen as a possible replacement for the four-time NFL Most Valuable Player.
Of course the team could look in-house, with Mason Rudolph and Will Howard both being possible Week 1 starters in 2026. Rudolph was slung into action during the Steelers' Week 11 win over the Cincinnati Bengals after Rodgers was forced to exit with a wrist injury, and played extremely well. Howard has yet to take a snap in the black and gold, but his size, talent, and collegiate success offers potential that many Steelers fans are anxious to see.
Eagles veteran putting himself in tough spot with struggles through week 4
Every team has that crucial backup, the next man up who you hope never has to see the field. For the Philadelphia Eagles, that spot along the offensive line is suddenly under a microscope. It’s like having a reliable relief pitcher in baseball; you need him to hold the line until your ace can return. But what happens when that reliever starts giving up walks and hits?
The news is clear for the Eagles. Veteran Matt Pryor is in a tough spot after his struggles through the first four weeks. When Lane Johnson left the Rams game, Pryor stepped in at right tackle. His performance, however, quickly became a problem. Meanwhile, Fred Johnson, the swing tackle Howie Roseman traded for in August, stepped in and shone.
This created a very workable alternative for the coaching staff. The evidence is stark. Pryor was on the field for five drives against the Rams. The results were brutal: four three-and-outs and a critical strip-sack. The offense managed a dismal -10 net yards with him protecting Jalen Hurts’ blindside. This public struggle triggered an immediate switch. Now, the contrast was night and day.
Fred Johnson stabilized the offense. With him at right tackle, the Eagles scored three touchdowns on their final four drives. They racked up 260 net yards and mounted a 19-point comeback.
The answer lies in consistent, observable performance. Against the Buccaneers, Pryor's opportunity was brief, filling in for an injured Tyler Steen at guard for a handful of snaps before Steen returned. While he didn't commit a major, game-altering error, the coaching staff's decision to turn to Fred Johnson once Lane Johnson went down later in the game was the telling sign. This move, bypassing Pryor for the tackle spot he struggled with a week prior, spoke louder than any stat sheet. For Pryor, the warning signs are now public.
Signals to Watch For Pryor
The first concrete signal will be in-game substitutions. If Lane Johnson is sidelined again and Pryor is yanked mid-game, that’s a clear message. Monitoring the official snap counts will tell this story early. Another major red flag would be another blown-up play. A sack allowed or a costly penalty credited to Pryor in Week 5 would fast-track the bench chatter. The Eagles’ offense cannot afford negative plays that kill drives.
Besides, it's important to listen closely to the coachspeak. If Head Coach Nick Sirianni, or Kevin Patullo, or any other offensive line coaches publicly praise Fred Johnson’s readiness while using careful words about Pryor’s “technique” or “consistency,” consider it a precursor to chang.e
"Fred did a great job, just like Fred did last year in certain situations, to come in and play meaningful football," Sirianni stated after the Rams game. That’s telling language. The dynamics of the NFL are unforgiving. A younger, returning veteran plays well, while a veteran backup falters. That is the exact recipe that puts a player’s role in serious jeopardy.
It’s a tough business where performance is the only currency that matters. And in the NFL, the only thing thinner than the margin is the ice under a struggling vet’s feet.
