Team news: Houston Texans

Texans WR Danny Amendola (thigh) will miss Thursday night's Week 3 contest against the Carolina Panthers according to Armando Salguero of Outkick.com.

The Texans are expecting Anthony Miller back for his debut with the team, but beyond Brandin Cooks the WR talent is barren.

Texans placed QB Tyrod Taylor and WR Nico Collins on IR.

Related players: Davis Mills

Both will have to miss at least three games. Taylor is dealing with a hamstring issue and Collins a shoulder. Mills will get the start at QB after coming on in relief. Mills is thrown to the fire early as it's a Thursday night game against the Panthers.

The expectation is right now Texans WR Danny Amendola (hamstring) won’t be able to go on Thursday night against the Panthers.

Related players: Nico Collins, Chris Conley

Amendola is the team's third WR but was more like the team's WR2 as he produced more than Collins through the first two weeks. With Amendola out, Collins and Conley could be in line to see more targets. However Davis Mills is now the starter, and the Texans aren't exactly safe plays in fantasy lineups.

Texans quarterback Davis Mills will make his first NFL start Thursday night when Houston hosts the Carolina Panthers. Texans coach David Culley announced the move Tuesday morning.

Related players: Jeff Driskel

Mills, a third-round rookie, went 8 of 18 passing for 102 yards with a touchdown pass and interception in a 31-21 loss to the Browns. Driskel could be elevated from the practice squad as, of course, Deshaun Watson is expected to be a healthy scratch.

Quarterback Tyrod Taylor’s hamstring injury could keep him out for four weeks.

Taylor was injured in the second quarter of the Texans’ 31-21 loss at Cleveland, and he was replaced by rookie Davis Mills, who’ll start Thursday night’s game against Carolina at NRG Stadium.

Related players: Davis Mills, Jeff Driskel

Depending on how quickly Taylor’s hamstring responds to treatment, sources familiar with his situation haven’t ruled out an earlier return, but the Texans have always been extra cautious with hamstring and groin injuries and aren’t expected to rush him back, the story went on to say. Mills will get the start and the team is expected to back him up with Driskel on a short week, Thursday night game. If he's still on the wire, Mills is worth adding in deeper leagues or superflex leagues but he's obviously not a confident start for fantasy owners.

Texans rookie WR Nico Collins is expected to miss 3-4 weeks with a shoulder injury that he sustained in Sunday’s loss to Browns, per source.

Collins hasn't been a huge factor so far, but did add his second catch of the season in Week 2 with a 32-yard grab. Brandin Cooks remains the big threat in the offense at WR catching 9 passes for 78 yards and a TD.

David Culley says Deshaun Watson will NOT play Thursday.

Related players: Tyrod Taylor, Davis Mills

It probably shouldn't come as a surprise the team won't turn to Watson given his off-field issues. Taylor is likely out and Mills wasn't impressive coming on in relief in Week 2. But it looks like the Texans will make Watson inactive yet again for Week 3, and look to give Mills the start.

Texans QB Tyrod Taylor has already been ruled out for Week 3 against the Panthers with a hamstring injury.

Being a Thursday game, this isn’t terribly surprising. Taylor will have an MRI Monday on his hamstring. Davis Mills will likely get the start on Thursday. He went 8/18 for 102 yards, one touchdown and an interception.

Texans rookie QB Davis Mills started the second half in place of an injured Tyrod Taylor.

Deja vu for Taylor? At least it wasn't a freak injury like last year. This time, he limped off after his rushing touchdown in the second quarter. The Texans are tied with the Browns, 14-14.