Texans backup Davis Mills throws touchdown, leads ‘calm and composed’ effort by offense in preseason loss to Vikings

MINNEAPOLIS – Davis Mills took the snap and pivoted to his right for a play-action fake before smoothly rolling out in the other direction.

As Mills ran away from pursuit, the misdirection play called by new offensive coordinator Nick Caley operated as planned. Mills delivered the football with a well-timed throw to wide receiver Braxton Berrios who took care of the rest with a great effort after the catch for a 14-yard touchdown Saturday afternoon at U.S. Bank Stadium in a preseason opener.

Although the Texans’ group of mostly backups didn’t win the football game, falling 20-10 to the Minnesota Vikings, Mills, an overhauled offensive line and running back Dare Ogunbowale got the job done.

“I was really pleased with our first offensive group, the way we stepped out very efficient, I liked everybody staying calm and composed,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “Davis did an excellent job of driving the ball down the field, commanding the huddle, putting the ball in really good placement. Then to see Dare have a couple of nice runs there; he was playing behind his pads. And there was really nice finish to the drive with Berrios, again, not only him catching and securing the football, but finishing physically through the end zone.

Mills, starting with the Texans holding out star quarterback C.J. Stroud because of the timing of this preseason game and a desire to protect key players, completed 4 of 5 passes for 50 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions for a 147.9 passer rating. He wasn’t sacked behind an offensive line comprised of rookie left tackle Aireontae Ersery, left guard Juice Scruggs, center Jake Andrews, right guard Ed Ingram and right tackle Blake Fisher.

Mills had time to operate the offense. That was a stark contrast to some rough moments for the line at training camp where they have struggled to block star pass rushers Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter. And Ogunbowale rushed for a team-high 29 yards on five carries with some big holes to run through.

“From my point of view, our o-line did a really nice job of controlling the line of scrimmage,” Ryans said. “When we did run the football, there was no one in the backfield. There was no penetration. It all starts up front.

“I feel like those guys did a really nice job of setting the tone, and that’s what we want to see from the offensive line. You come out and be physical, set the tone for the offense. And I thought that first group did a nice job of that.”

Mills, a former Texans starter and the first draft pick by general manager Nick Caserio after he was hired as a third-round selection from Stanford, did a nice job orchestrating Caley’s vision for offensive football.

He appeared in four games last season, completing 20 of 36 passes for 212 yards. For his career, Mills has passed for 6,167 yards, 35 touchdowns and 25 interceptions for an 82.6 passer rating.

“Very confident, collected out there,” Berrios said. “I mean he’s a very good quarterback, and I think he can start in a lot of places. And so it’s easy being on the field with him, he knows what he’s doing.”

There was a difference in tempo in a game from the offense compared to how things had been going during some disjointed training camp moments against an elite defense.

“We can’t really replicate live action in practice,” Mills said. “We do as much as we can, scrimmage, and move through all periods of practice. But a lot of times, getting back out there with your teammates, going against some guys you don’t see every day.

“So, we obviously only have that one drive at the start, but I thought the offensive line did a great job in protection, and especially in the run game, ran them all hard. And my guys were getting open out on the edge.”

Of course, no quarterback can do his job without the help of his offensive line.

This was, albeit not with the full offensive line as Tytus Howard, Laken Tomlinson, Cam Robinson (leg injury) all held out of the game, an encouraging performance. That said, key Vikings defensive players Jonathan Greenard and Blake Cashman, two former Texans starters, didn’t play in this game along with Andrew Van Ginkel.

“I thought they protected extremely well,” Mills said. “And I think we challenged them to go out there and pound the rock and we were able to drive straight down that field and run the ball well today.”

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com