C.J. Stroud ruled out for Texans-Titans

Texans quarterback CJ Stroud, a leading candidate for NFL rookie of the year, will miss the first game of his career, Sunday, when Houston meets the Tennessee Titans.

Stroud still is in concussion protocol. He didn’t even travel to Nashville with the rest of his teammates. The Texans announced the news Saturday afternoon. In addition, offensive tackle George Fant didn’t travel with the team because of an illness and a hip injury.

T George Fant (hip/illness) and QB C.J. Stroud (concussion) did not travel to Tennessee and have been downgraded to out for #HOUvsTEN.

CB Steven Nelson (wrist) has been added to the injury report and is now questionable.

— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) December 16, 2023

Stroud suffered the concussion last Sunday when his head hit the turf at MetLife Stadium. It already was a miserable day for the Texans, as they lost to the Jets, 30-6. Then Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams hit Stroud with about six minutes to go in the game. The quarterback and No. 2 pick of the draft, didn’t practice at all this week. Houston coach DeMeco Ryans told reporters, Friday, that Stroud still was in concussion protocol. There are five steps a player needs to pass before he can see the field after a head injury.

The Texans still are in contention for a playoff spot. But there are a number of teams with their same 7-6 record. In fact, there were six coming into the weekend. The Bengals knocked off the Vikings earlier Saturday to push their record to 8-6.

The Next Gen Stats playoff predictor gave the Texans a 37 percent chance of making the post season headed into week 15. A win over the Titans bumps the probability to 56 percent. A loss takes it down to 22.

With Stroud back in Houston, Ryans could either start Davis Mills ot Case Keenum. On Friday, reporters asked Ryans about who would start in case Stroud couldn’t play. He declined to say.

Ryans talked up Mills this week.

“Davis has done a good job with everything that we’ve asked him to do,” Ryans told reporters. “He’s done a really good job of just leading in his own right.

“If you’ve been there, you’ve done it and you’re not making the moment bigger than it should be. Experience helps us all.”

Meanwhile, Houston’s KPRC reported that Keenum, the former Houston Cougar star, will be Texans QB1. Keenum reportedly took the majority of snaps with the first team offense. But Ryans wouldn’t provide any concrete info.

“Both guys have prepared all week, just like every position,” Ryans said at his press conference. “Everybody has prepared. I told everybody on Wednesday everybody needs to prepare as a starter, and that’s how we approach it. That’s kind of how our season has gone. We need everybody.”