C.J. Stroud is back.
After missing the last two games, the Houston Texans quarterback revealed Thursday that he’s cleared the concussion protocol. Stroud plans on starting Sunday’s game against the Tennessee Titans.
“It’s great being back,” Stroud said, per ESPN’s DJ Bien-Aime. “I missed it. Everything that happened… I guess it’s something God wanted me to go through.”
CJ Stroud says “he’s out the protocol,” and plans to start on Sunday.
— DJ Bien-Aime (@Djbienaime) December 28, 2023
“It’s great being back. I missed it. Everything that happened… I guess it’s something God wanted me to go thru.”
– CJ Stroud pic.twitter.com/j3qKxItFtL
— DJ Bien-Aime (@Djbienaime) December 28, 2023
Stroud was in the middle of a superb rookie campaign before getting hurt in Week 14’s 30-6 loss to the New York Jets. His head slammed hard onto the MetLife Stadium turf when getting dragged down after a pass by Quinnen Williams.
The No. 2 pick has 3,631 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, five interceptions, and a 98.7 quarterback rating for the Texans this season. He’ll return with a chance to guide Houston into the playoffs after a three-win season.
Without Stroud, the Texans salvaged a 19-16 overtime win at Tennessee behind Case Keenum. While the Texans fell to the Cleveland Browns in Week 16, they remain tied for first in the AFC South because the Jacksonville Jaguars and Indianapolis Colts also lost.
Houston, Jacksonville, and Indianapolis are all 8-7 with two weeks remaining. The Jaguars hold the three-team tiebreaker with a 3-1 record against their two division adversaries.
Even if they don’t win the division, the Texans will capture a wild-card spot if closing the season with wins over the Titans and Colts. A healthy Stroud bolsters their chances of returning to the postseason after a three-year hiatus.
Barring any setbacks, Stroud will take the field when Houston plays Tennessee this Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.