Key players C.J. Stroud and Jalen Pitre are back! Ryans confirms their return, boosting the Texans for Sunday's crucial Colts matchup.
Speaking to the media today, Texans head coach Demeco Ryans officially declared that both quarterback C.J. Stroud and defensive back Jalen Pitre have cleared the NFL's concussion protocol and are slated to return to action against the Indianapolis Colts this Sunday.
It's been a long road back for both Stroud and Pitre, as they both missed the last three games against the Jaguars, Titans and Bills because of concussions sustained against the Denver Broncos in week nine.
Backup quarterback Davis Mills took the reins for the offense in the absence of Stroud, going 3-0 and helping the team stay afloat in the AFC playoff race. The Texans' defense performed historically well even without Pitre's contributions, but he reintroduction will only add to the ferocity and impact of the NFL's #1 overall unit.
This news brings a sigh of relief for the Texans fan base also, as slight concern started to mount due to the length and complexity of the injuries, specifically to that of Stroud. Stroud is now returning from his second concussion in three seasons, with the last coming against the New York Jets in 2023 and costing him two games.
"Yeah, I'm, excited to be back. Blessed man, super grateful to be able to be healthy again," expressed a reflective Stroud when asked about what his return to the field meant to him.
He continued, "it was kind of eye-opening to kind of get a bird's-eye view, which I haven't had in a long time." The mention of a "bird's-eye view" is a very important detail for Stroud to mention, as it's no secret the Houston's offense was a bit inconsistent prior to his injury against Denver.
To his and offensive coordinator Nick Caley's credit though, it had definitely seemed as though something had been unlocked with their unit, seeing as though they looked magnificent against the 49ers and were picking apart Denver's secondary prior to the concussion inducing collision early in the second quarter.
Him being able to step back and regroup could produce major dividends for a potential elevation of the offense, as Mills also contributed his own spin under center that could give Stroud a different viewpoint for how to manage the scheme on a down by down basis.
Make no mistake, this team is better with both Stroud under center and Pitre patrolling the middle of the field. The Texans have been on a roll for the last three games, and their returns could be the supercharge needed to propel the franchise to its third playoff berth in as many seasons under Ryans.
The rest of the NFL is seeing much regression and injury concerns, while Houston seems to be getting healthy and playing their best football at just the right time.
Thanksgiving was yesterday, but the city of Houston is thankful to get to get confirmation of the return of two of the youngest and brightest stars in the entire league.
Next stop, the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
The AFC South race just got that much more interesting .
Do you think the return of Stroud and Pitre will help to transform and elevate the Texans for the final six games of the season? WIll their return lead to a playoff berth? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below or on the Texans Roundtable's official X account, @Texans_RTB!