Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud has been ruled out of the game against the Denver Broncos on Sunday after suffering a concussion during the second quarter. Stroud was injured when he was hit by Broncos cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine after attempting to scramble for a first down.
The incident occurred at 13:51 in the first half. On a crucial third-and-8 play, Stroud dropped back and surveyed the field before deciding to run. He slid short of the first-down marker, but Abrams-Draine lunged into his chest, causing Stroud’s head to collide with the ground. Following the hit, Stroud remained on the field for a brief period, moving gingerly before he managed to get up and walk off under his own power. He acknowledged the crowd with a thumbs up before entering the medical tent and subsequently heading to the locker room.
Initially, Abrams-Draine was flagged for unnecessary roughness. However, after review, officials overturned the penalty, stating he did not make contact with Stroud’s head or neck.
Davis Mills, the Texans’ backup quarterback, took over for Stroud following the injury. At the time of his exit, Stroud had completed 6 of 10 passes for 79 yards, guiding the Texans into field goal range on two occasions.
This incident marks Stroud’s second concussion, with his first occurring against the New York Jets in December 2023. That injury happened in a similar manner, as Stroud’s helmet struck the turf after he was tackled by defensive tackle Quinnen Williams.
The Texans will now look to Mills to lead the team as they face the Broncos in a critical matchup. The impact of Stroud’s absence on the team’s performance remains to be seen, but the Texans will undoubtedly miss his contributions on the field.
