C.J. Stroud out for Week 15 after concussion vs. Jets

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Things aren’t looking up for Houston after C.J. Stroud suffered a concussion in Week 14 against the Jets.

According to The Athletic, the star rookie quarterback has been ruled out for the Texans’ game on Sunday against the Titans as the team sits just on the outside of the playoff picture.

Earlier Friday, the team had officially ruled Stroud as doubtful.

Even though Houston head coach DeMeco Ryans said Friday that Stroud is “feeling better,” the signal-caller remains in the concussion protocol after not practicing with the team all week.

Stroud was knocked out of the game last week with a big blow from Jets defensive lineman Quinnen Williams in the eventual 30-6 Jets victory.

Now, with Stroud out, the Texans will likely turn to backup Davis Mills for what would be his first start this season.

C.J. Stroud walking off the field after getting injured in the 4th quarter. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

“With time come reps and experience, I think just the amount of opportunity I’ve had and the experience I’ve been able to build over these past couple of years has made me a better player,” Mills told reporters Thursday, per ESPN. “I’m looking forward to it.”

Mills, drafted in the third round (67th overall) in the 2021 NFL Draft out of Stanford, went 5-19-1 as a starter throughout his first two seasons with the Texans, recording 5,806 passing yards with 33 touchdowns and 25 interceptions.

C.J. Stroud on the ground after getting hit in the fourth quarter against the Jets. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

Houston’s offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik said the game against Tennessee will be called differently if Mills is under center, but he doesn’t foresee that being an issue.

“[He] throws the ball probably better than most people and humans that we’ve ever seen,” Slowik said of Mills, ESPN reported. “He’s adapted to our drop back game, which is different than a lot of other guys. Not other guys — it’s different from other schemes that he’s been in — just how we approach it. And then, play pass — I think guys typically kind of figure out pretty quick.

“It’s more adapting to the drop back. He already has a feel for the keepers. And then the nomenclature and being able to use the verbiage, he’s really picked that up pretty quick, which I think is a testament to kind of how smart he is and how he’s been doing the whole time.”

Houston Texans quarterback Davis Mills (10) reacts during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023. AP

If the Texans were to lose Stroud for the remainder of the season, it would put a major halt on what has been a tremendous season.

Stroud sits second in the league in passing yards (3,631) and is short 743 yards of tying the league record for passing yards held by a rookie that Andrew Luck set in 2012 when he passed for 4,374 yards.

To upstage Luck, Stroud would have to average 248 yards per game across the remaining three games of the season — if he returns in Week 16.

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