Texans third-string QB Graham Mertz leaves with injury
Houston quarterback Graham Mertz left Thursday's preseason opener with an injury, leaving the Texans even shorter at the position in the exhibition game.
Graham Mertz, the Texans' third-string quarterback, left Thursday's preseason opener with an injury.
Mertz was expected to see work behind the rest of Houston's quarterback room. Backup Davis Mills was slated to play only one series in the exhibition opener, meaning the Texans were counting on getting an extended look at Mertz.
His exit cuts into that plan and thins Houston's signal-caller group for the remainder of the game. The Texans have not yet detailed the nature or severity of the injury.
The early exit is a setback for Mertz, who was using the preseason to make his case for a spot on the roster or practice squad behind Houston's established quarterbacks.
Preseason reps are valuable for a player in Mertz's position, and an injury that cuts his night short represents a lost opportunity as the Texans evaluate the back end of their quarterback room.