Graham Mertz Hurt in Texans Preseason, Mills Forced Back Into Action

Houston's quarterback room just got uncomfortably shallow. Third-stringer Graham Mertz left the Texans' preseason contest with an injury on the final play from scrimmage before halftime, forcing Davis Mills back onto the field to start the second half. Mertz had come in with 52 seconds left in the first quarter and was supposed to close out the game.

That plan is now scrapped. With no fourth quarterback on the roster, Mills will likely have to grind through the rest of the night himself. Before he'd been pulled, Mills had already done his part, capping an 11-play, 75-yard opening march with a 5-yard touchdown strike to Jared Wayne.

Why Houston's Watching Closely

The Texans didn't stumble into this depth problem blind — they'd recently brought in Seth Henigan and Jake Haener for workouts, a signal the front office was already sniffing around for arm insurance. A Mertz injury only sharpens that need. If it lingers, don't be surprised to see one of those names, or another veteran, on the roster before the games count.

None of the QBs here move the fantasy needle in redraft leagues. Mertz is a camp body, and Mills is a proven QB2-at-best. The genuinely interesting name is on the receiving end: Jared Wayne, who caught that opening-drive score.

The Fantasy Fallout

Wayne remains unranked in our model, and his 2025 line is tiny — 2 catches, 20 yards, 0 touchdowns for just 4 PPR points across one game. A preseason touchdown grab doesn't change that math for standard leagues. But it's the kind of rep that keeps a young receiver in the mix, and dynasty managers with roster space can afford to note the name.

Bottom line: leave Wayne on your watch list, not your lineup. He's a monitor-and-stash flyer for deep dynasty formats — nothing more until the target share shows up. As for the QBs, keep an eye on any veteran signing, because Houston clearly isn't comfortable rolling into the season this thin.