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0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. The Houston Texans have one of the better backup quarterback situations in the NFL with former starter Davis Mills the team’s QB2 behind starter C.J. Stroud.
However, their depth at the position took a major hit in the team’s 27-7 defeat to the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday in the team’s preseason opener.
“Texans believe QB Graham Mertz tore his ACL during Thursday night’s preseason opener vs the Chargers. There is expected to be additional testing to confirm the injury,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter posted on X.
The 25-year-old Mertz, a sixth-round pick of the Texans in the 2025 draft, played just two drives against the Chargers. He completed 4 of 7 passes for 23 yards, recording a passer rating of 63.4
If Mertz did, in fact, tear his ACL, he’s looking at a long road back to the field.
The typical timeline for NFL players to heal from an ACL injury is 9-12 months, meaning Mertz may be sidelined until this time next year.
Stroud and Mills are the only other quarterbacks on Houston’s roster right now. Should the team want to replace Mertz’s spot on the roster, there’s not a lot to choose from in free agency.
Former San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams QB Jimmy Garoppolo is the best signal-caller available, and behind him is a who’s who list of unproven veterans and inexperience youth including Jeff Driskel, John Wolford, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Tim Boyle, Jake Haener, Desmond Ridder, and Diego Pavia.
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