Last week, Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud was scrambling for a first down in the second quarter of the game against the Denver Broncos. As he went to slide, Broncos defensive back Kris Abrams-Draine hit him in the chest, causing Stroud’s head to hit the ground.
He left the game with a concussion and has been in protocol in the early part of this week.
On Wednesday afternoon, Texans coach DeMeco Ryans announced that Stroud would be out for Week 10, and that Davis Mills would get the start against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Stroud has had some history with concussions, as he suffered one in Week 15 during the 2023 season that caused him to miss the following week.
On the season, Stroud has thrown for 1,702 yards and 11 touchdowns, and has the best QBR of his career at 64.2. As a whole, the offense has been up-and-down as the Texans have been held to less than 20 points in five of the team’s eight games this season.
For Stroud to be able to come back and start playing again, he will have to clear the five-step protocol that the league has established. It is a gradual increase of physical activity, and he has to pass each stage before he moves on to the next one.
With Stroud out, Mills will be the guy in Houston.The Texans took him with the 67th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, and he has played in 40 games in his career.
He has thrown for 6,327 yards, 35 touchdowns and 25 interceptions in his career, with the majority of those coming in his first two seasons when he played in 28 games.
For the Texans, they are entering a crucial part of the season. The Texans have won the AFC South in consecutive seasons, but that streak is in serious jeopardy with the Indianapolis Colts posting a 7-2 record.
Kickoff between the Texans and Jaguars is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET, and the game will be on CBS.
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