Thursday’s Hall of Fame Game might’ve ended short, but Collin Johnson and Davis Mills made their impact.
CANTON, OH— Thursday’s Hall of Fame game gave us our first taste of NFL football in over five months. While the game was curtailed by inclement weather, it paved the path for plenty of players to get their bearings before the actual preseason begins and for them to make their cases to make the final 53-man roster.
Collin Johnson made his statement almost immediately– bringing out what the best of the preseason, the unknown stars. Racking up a stat sheet that featured three catches for 56 yards and two touchdowns, Johnson rose to the occasion becoming the Bears’ most efficient receiver throughout the night.
Johnson was originally drafted by the Jaguars in the fifth-round in 2020 out of Texas. The Jaguars loved his 6’6″ stature and got on board. Johnson still hasn’t truly gotten an opportunity to shine– spending most of last year on the Bears’ practice squad. However, the Hall of Fame Game showed Johnson’s ability as not only a route runner but as a skilled pass catcher as well. The one catch that wasn’t a touchdown was a stunning, twisting, Randy Moss-esque grab that sent Johnson flying backwards.
“I kind of entered the game with just a sense of gratitude, and I felt honored to have the opportunity to play this amazing game,” said Johnson. “It’s been a long journey for me with injuries and stuff like that. So I just want to put my best foot forward. I think I did that tonight.”
Johnson missed the 2022 season with a torn Achilles tendon, but that hasn’t stopped him from coming back with fervor. Johnson made appearances in 2023 against the Arizona Cardinals and two other games late in the season when the Bears were well out of playoff contention.
Johnson also made plays on special teams, a crucial statement for a player on the roster bubble with a stacked receiver room.
“For me, with my journey, just with a lot of injuries and just having to be patient, my goal tonight was just to give God glory with everything I did,” Johnson said. “I was super emotional in the locker room because I’ve had such a long journey. This was my first time getting in the end zone since 2020. … I never stopped working. I never stopped keeping the faith, and I’m just going to build off this and keep working.”
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On the other side, Davis Mills– the presumed backup to CJ Stroud performed well for the Texans. Mills finished the night 10 for 12 for 102 yards and a touchdown, impressive numbers for a quarterback who was thought to be the future in Houston just three years ago.
“Davis did a really nice job, really commanding the offense, really being efficient in the passing game,” head coach DeMeco Ryans said. “I like what Davis did tonight and it’s something that he can continue to build on.”
Mills and fellow quarterback Case Keenum are deadlocked in a quarterback battle for second-string behind Stroud. Mills now has a strong showing to put on his resume for the role making decisive decisions under center and looking poised. Mills showed off precision and arm strength throughout his tenure in the game.
The Texans are coming off one of the best seasons in their franchise history with Stroud at the helm and Mills will be looking to up his trade and contract value in the coming games, trying to make it as a backup elsewhere off his rookie deal or even fight for a starting role in 2025.
