It has been three weeks since the Houston Texans faced the Denver Broncos, but the NFL is a brotherhood, and players from one team frequently defend others on rival squads. Such was the case for Broncos star Jonathon Cooper and Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud.
Stroud has missed the Texans’ last two games due to a concussion suffered before halftime in the loss to the Broncos, and he missed their Week 12 showdown against the Buffalo Bills.
He is expected back in Week 13, but his countenance in Week 12 drew negative attention.
C.J. Stroud Receives Strong Defense From Broncos’ Jonathon Cooper
GettyJonathon Cooper #0 of the Denver Broncos on the field after defeating the Las Vegas Raiders .
When known social media aggregator (and sometimes agitator ) Dov Kleiman claimed Stroud looked dejected in the locker room as his teammates celebrated, Cooper clapped back with a post on X, saying, “Yeah you sound stupid.”
Cooper posted the message twice, though he deleted the duplicate, which was posted on Saturday.
Whether that was by choice or technical difficulties, Cooper’s point about the fledgling narrative on Stroud was driven home.
Stroud could also be seen hyping up his defensive teammates following a Bills touchdown, and filling in starting QB Davis Mills spoke candidly about not only his own place on the team, but also how the Texans’ QB1 was with him on the sidelines during the game.
Mills did well in Stroud’s place, posting a 719-5-1 line on 59.5% completion in his three starts .
However, that is a long way from saying that he should start over Stroud, the No. 2 overall pick, a Pro Bowler, and the Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2023, and Mills knows that.
Davis Mills Shuts Door on Texans QB Controversy
GettyDavis Mills #10 of the Houston Texans warms up before a game against the Buffalo Bills.
“I don’t think there’s a competition,” Mills told reporters on November 20. “C.J.’s the starter for this team. I’m just doing everything I can to bring my best foot forward every day. Make everyone else around me better and try to provide and play my role to my best ability when I get thrown in there.”
Stroud lauded Mills after the latter signed an extension.
That was before Stroud suffered his first career concussion, and the Texans turned to Case Keenum , who currently plays for the Chicago Bears , over Mills.
Mills was the No. 67 overall pick in 2021 and the Texans’ starter for his first two seasons. He spoke previously about using that as motivation. This time around, Mills is in. Moreover, Stroud had his back during the contest, the latter’s first on the sideline since the injury.
Mills said his interactions with Stroud were “great.”
“Coming over to me and giving me pointers if he saw something throughout the game when I was coming back to the bench. And, yeah, extremely supportive,” Mills said. “Definitely ready to be back. He wants to get back. You can tell he’s itching to get back out there on the field. But he was great all night.”
Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans praised Mills for his efforts against the Bills and in the two games prior, both wins, against the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans .
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