With C.J. Stroud sidelined, Texans rally behind backup QB again, seeking another improbable victory against the Titans. Bills game hangs in balance.
The first time Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud ever missed time due to injury was when he suffered his first concussion in 2023 against the New York Jets in week 14. Halfway through the fourth quarter of that matchup, a hit from former Jets defensive lineman Quinnen Williams caused Stroud's head to hit the turf hard upon being tackled.
This led to Stroud missing two weeks (weeks 15 and 16) of game action, in which the Texans went 1-1 with his absence.
Funny enough, their lone win came against the Tennessee Titans in a 19-16 overtime thriller that included NFL journeyman quarterback Case Keenum helping to rally the team back from down a touchdown in the fourth quarter to winning in overtime thanks to a 54-yard Ka'imi Fairbairn field goal with only two seconds left on the game clock.
Fast forward to 2025, and Stroud is in line to miss his second straight contest due to another concussion. This time, the injury happened in week nine against the Denver Broncos early in the second quarter after Stroud was hit on a slide attempt by Broncos cornerback Kris Abrams-Drain after he scrambled out of the pocket for extra yards.
In the first game of his absence, Houston faced a week 10 "win or go home" atmosphere against the Jacksonville Jaguars at NRG Stadium.
And, instead of Case Keenum taking snaps from under center, backup quarterback Davis Mills stepped in to take the reigns and possibly guide the ship to a much needed AFC South victory.
Then, just like in 2023, the Texans stole a game late against their opponent after having to come roaring back from down 19 points in the fourth quarter to win 36-29. Unlike 2023 however, they didn't need overtime to finish the job.
Now they face the Tennessee Titans (1-8) at Nissan Stadium this coming Sunday, and head coach Demeco Ryans has confirmed that Stroud will indeed be missing his second game due to still being in the league's concussion protocol. While another absence is not ideal, it comes against the most favorable of opponents given the juxtaposition of trajectories of both Houston and Tennessee.
However, it's the Thursday night game against the Buffalo Bills next week that has caught the attention of those keeping tabs on things. The Bills' matchup would only be four days after this Sunday, which may or may not be enough time for Stroud to fully clear the NFL's concussion protocol.
If he is in any jeopardy to miss next Thursday's showdown with the Bills, that could spell trouble for them trying to make a run of things on the back end of their schedule.
Assuming they take care of business prior to then, they would be nursing a 5-5 overall record and seeking their third straight win for the first time in 2025. Along with that, they are still trying to keep pace with the Steelers, Chargers, Jaguars and Chiefs in the AFC playoff standings.
If Stroud can't go for a third straight game, Mills would be trying to accomplish that feat against a league MVP in Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen and a defense currently ranked third in passing yards (170.2/game) and 11th in scoring (21.9/game).
For all of the excitement witnessed over a historic comeback against the Jaguars, Houston definitely would have its work cut out for it in facing a team in Buffalo that's been a perennial AFC championship game contender. They are also a unit that may be looking for a little payback against the Texans after dropping their 2024 week five matchup 23-20 at NRG Stadium on a buzzer-beater field goal.
Is Stroud well on his way to being available for week 12 against the Bills? Or, will the Texans have to ride the Mills-wagon one more time in hopes of another unlikely victory against a quality AFC opponent in the Bills?
Let us know your predictions in the comment section below or on the official Texans Roundtable X account (@Texans_RTB)!