The Houston Texans may have to keep their playoff hopes alive this week without their transcendent young quarterback. According to ESPN's DJ Bien-Aime, second-overall pick and offensive rookie of the year favorite C.J. Stroud is expected to miss the Texans' crucial Week 16 matchup with the Cleveland Browns.
Texans QB C.J. Stroud likely out Sunday vs. Browns, sources say https://t.co/ywIqUIpWJg
— DJ Bien-Aime (@Djbienaime) December 20, 2023
Stroud suffered a concussion in the Texans' Week 14 30-6 loss to the New York Jets. Stroud was on the field for 86% of the offensive snaps but played arguably his worst game as a pro, netting a mere 53 passing yards on 27 dropbacks. His unavailability is an unfortunate reminder of how unpredictable an athlete's recovery from head trauma can be; Stroud has yet to practice since suffering his injury.
Even as he heads towards another missed game, Stroud's remarkable play in 13 games has made him a decisive favorite for offensive rookie of the year. His 3631 passing yards rank sixth in the league, his 7.00 net yards per passing attempt rank third, and his interception rate is an NFL-best 1.1%. By many metrics, he's on pace for one of the greatest rookie seasons the quarterback position has ever seen.
That play has translated directly into a winning season for the Texans. They currently sit at 8-6, in a three-way tie with the Indianapolis Colts and Jacksonville Jaguars for the best record in the AFC South. Unfortunately, Stroud's health can't be taken for granted, and his continued unavailability could easily derail what had been a promising season. A loss or two in the coming weeks would very likely keep the Texans out of the playoffs.
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