The Houston Texans coach, DeMeco Ryans, announced this Friday excellent news for the fans: quarterback C.J. Stroud has passed the concussion protocol and will be ready to start Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts.
Stroud suffered a concussion during the game against the Denver Broncos in Week 9, which forced him to miss three games. During his absence, the Texans only fell to the Broncos, while the team achieved an undefeated record with backup quarterback Davis Mills, including two decisive victories against the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Tennessee Titans. Mills accumulated 879 passing yards, five touchdowns, and only one interception in his three starts.
The Texans’ (3-0) performance without Stroud has firmly positioned them in the fight for the AFC playoffs. Currently, Houston (6-5) holds the eighth position, behind the Buffalo Bills (7-4), whom they defeated 23-19 in Week 12, for the last AFC wildcard spot. In addition, the Texans are only two games behind the Colts (8-3) and one behind the Jaguars (7-4) in the AFC South.
Last week’s victory over the Bills could be crucial in the final stretch of the season, as Houston has the direct tiebreaker in the wild card race over Buffalo.
The Texans still have no room for error, with a 38% chance of making the playoffs. To achieve this, they would need a historic feat that defies the odds.
Since the NFL expanded to a 14-team playoff format, only one team that started 0-3 has managed to qualify. Ironically, the 2018 Texans were that team, although it was before the expansion to 14 teams.
Additionally, the Texans will have the return of safety Jalen Pitre, who also missed three games due to a concussion. Pitre’s return will reinforce a Houston defense that is already one of the best in the league. The Texans have allowed the fewest yards per game (264.3) and the second-fewest points per game (16.5) this season.
