With Houston Texans star rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud out this week with a concussion, backup Case Keenum is expected to get the start. How much does the backup make?
Case Keenum’s 2023 Salary
According to ESPN, Keenum will get the start on Sunday.
Throughout the week, Keenum and Mills split reps, but coach DeMeco Ryans will roll with the 11-year veteran over Mills.
Mills has more recent experience with the team, starting 26 different games from 2021-2022, and replaced Stroud after the latter exited Week 14’s loss to the Jets.
The last time Keenum started a game was in 2021, when he replaced Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield for two games. Keenum threw three touchdowns with one interception, and the Browns were 2-0 in those matchups.
The veteran has not thrown a pass this season but has proven himself capable in the past, notably reaching the NFC Championship with the Minnesota Vikings in 2017-18.
He played college football for the Houston Cougars, where he became the NCAA’s all-time leader in total passing yards, touchdowns, and completions. In the 2008 college football season, Keenum ranked first nationally in total offense and second in total passing yards.
He is the only quarterback in Division I FBS football history to have passed for more than 5,000 yards in each of three seasons and the only college player to reach the 20,000-yard plateau.
After being signed by the Texans as an undrafted free agent in 2012, Keenum threw for 1,760 yards and nine touchdowns in the eight games he started in 2013 before being waived prior to the 2014 season.
He was then signed to the Rams’ practice squad and then re-signed with the Texans later in 2014. In 2015, the Rams traded a draft pick to the Texans for Keenum, where he played until signing as a free agent with the Minnesota Vikings in 2017.
After starting quarterback Sam Bradford was injured, Keenum took his place and had a career year as he set highs in starts, passing yards, completions, and touchdowns. He led the Vikings to a 13-win regular season.
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Following that, Keenum played for the Denver Broncos, the Washington Commanders, the Cleveland Browns, and the Buffalo Bills.
Case Keenum signed a two-year, $6,250,000 contract with the Texans, including a $750,000 signing bonus, $4,000,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $3,125,000.
In 2023, Keenum will earn a base salary of $2,250,000 and a signing bonus of $750,000 while carrying a cap hit of $2,845,588 and a dead cap value of $4,000,000.
Houston has lost two of its last three games but remains above .500 at 7-6, with a chance to improve to 2-2 in the AFC South with a win over the Titans.
Stroud has been the main reason the Texans have found success this season, and it will be interesting to see what the team can pull off in his absence and with the 11-year veteran Keenum at the helm.
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