The Houston Texans will be without their rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud in his second straight game. He took a concussion from the encounter with the New York Jets on December 10. Stroud was injured when safety Kris Abrams-Draine dove into his chest. The force of the impact caused Stroud’s skull to impact the asphalt below. This unexpected turn of events has forced the rookie quarterback to miss important starts against the Tennessee Titans and the Cleveland Browns.
Stroud’s concussion was not an isolated incident. He had missed the previous concussion in Week 9 vs the Denver Broncos-footage where he attempted to slide while getting hit on a third-down conversion. This most recent injury is the second time in Stroud’s three-year career that he has missed back-to-back games with a concussion. This puts him at great risk, during this critical period of development, for lifelong negative health impacts.
After suffering the concussion versus the Jets, Stroud has missed all of the practice work since. The Texans have gotten themselves into an unfortunate situation. They have a truncated week to get ready for their next game, hosting the Buffalo Bills on “Thursday Night Football.” Stroud’s potential return for that game is uncertain, complicating matters for the team’s offensive strategy.
His absence is most notable for the Texans, who are counting on Stroud’s continued development as a rookie starter. His leadership and skill have been immeasurable for the young team’s success this season. With Stroud now out of the lineup, it’s up to the backup quarterbacks Houston leaves in their wake to carry the Texans through this stretch of the season.
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