JACKSONVILLE – Team reporter Kainani Stevens each week during the 2025 regular season will speak with a media member covering the Jaguars' opponent.
Up this week:
Houston Chronicle reporter Jonathan Alexander on the Texans as they enter a Week 10 matchup against the Jaguars at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.
Question: The Jaguars and Texans have already played each other this year, but it seems like a lot has changed since the two faced off in Week 3.
Answer: Absolutely. The Texans lost quarterback C.J. Stroud to a concussion last Sunday, and he won't play Sunday against the Jaguars. The defense continues to play well. The offense gained a little rhythm, but they're very inconsistent. It'll be interesting to see which team goes out there on Sunday for them.
Q: CJ Stroud remains in concussion protocol. Davis Mills is the backup. We saw him a little bit against the Denver Broncos. What do you expect from the offense with Mills this week?
A: I thought that the offense was really coming along against the Broncos early in that game last Sunday. They had a great game against the San Francisco 49ers the previous week and it started to carry over. I think you'll probably see an emphasis on the running game a little bit more, as they try to open things for Mills. Mills will probably attempt a lot of short passes until things open deep downfield. I do think Mills will be better prepared after having a week to prepare rather than coming in cold. They don't give him a lot of plays when he's not starting, and now the focus will be solely on him. Now, whether that turns into a victory for the Texans? That depends on how much the Jaguars' defense is humming.
Q: The Texans' defense has always been so dominant, and they've continued that going this season. How have they been able to maintain that success even with the offense not being good until recently?
A: Recently, they've started to have an uptick in takeaways. I think their secondary is playing a lot better. Right after the Jaguars game, the Texans ended up cutting C.J. Gardner-Johnson, and I believe that helped out with the communication. Gardner-Johnson was the new piece on that defense, and now they've gotten guys who are more familiar who have played with each other for a number of years. The defensive line; Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter are having good games. I think the biggest thing is the Texans have started to stop the run a lot better than they had early in the season. That's continued to help them to flourish.
Q: What's the mentality of the team right now? The Jaguars feel like this is a huge game for them. I have to imagine the Texans are feeling similarly?
A: Obviously a lot of guys are upset that they lost that first matchup to their division rival, the Jaguars in Week 3. They want to win. They're a very close team. I don't think we'll see them give up on the season or anything like that. The defense knows they're the top defense in the NFL, and they want to continue to prove that. I think they're going to give their best. I think other guys are going to have to step up and show their worth because they're missing a huge piece without Stroud.
Q: Do you have a name or two that's an X-factor for you going into this game if the Texans are to get a win?
A: I think it absolutely two guys. I think wide receiver Nico Collins, because he's their best playmaker on offense. Also, Woody Marks, the rookie running back. When he has really good games this offense is exploding, and he has big-play ability. However, when he's stopped, they struggle as an offense. Woody Marks and Nico Collins are the big guys who must have big games.
