(SportsRadio 610) - After missing two games because of a concussion, rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud is eager to play against the Titans at NRG Stadium and discover if he can ignite the Texans to the playoffs for the first time since 2019.
Stroud passed the five steps in the NFL’s concussion protocol and was allowed to return by team doctors and the league’s independent neurologist. The Texans, who are 8-7 and involved in a three-way tie for first place in the AFC South, are hoping to defeat Tennessee and Indianapolis to be in position to either win the division title or a wild card berth.
“I feel great,” Stroud said Thursday. “It’s great being back. I missed it. It wasn't easy, but my teammates held it down as best as they could, and I appreciate them for that. Now I'm back, and I’m excited to play.”
Stroud suffered concussion in the 30-6 loss to the Jets at MetLife Stadium. He was knocked down by defensive tackle Quinnen Williams after releasing the ball. It was a clean hit, one that Williams went on social media to express his regret and wish Stroud a quick recovery.
“(Injuries are) a part of the game,” Stroud said. “I feel like concussions are a little different. I've had concussions, but this one was probably the worst because I hit the back of my head (on) the ground hard.
“The thing I’ve learned about concussions is that (they’re) not a one-size-fits-all situation. The training staff did a great job of making sure I was okay and (I) wasn't forcing it and trying to come back too fast. I appreciate them for being honest throughout the process.”
The Texans were 1-1 in Stroud’s absence. They won at Tennessee 19-16 on Ka’imi Fairbairn’s 54-yard field goal on the last play of overtime. They lost 36-22 to Cleveland at NRG Stadium, where Joe Flacco threw three touchdown passes. Stroud got a new perspective because he watched both games on television at his home.
“This is the most (time off) since August of 2022 preparing for my season with Ohio State (and) I hadn’t stopped since then,” Stroud said. “It was good for me to let my shoulder rest and other little nicks and pains I had. It's something I had to go through and fight through another piece of adversity. I didn't try to get too up (or) too down. I was trying to be supportive of my teammates. It was tough to watch because I wanted to play, but there was nothing I could do.”
Now there is something Stroud can do – help the Texans sweep the Titans to set up a 17th game at Indianapolis that would have playoff implications for both teams. For the first time, Stroud is expected to square off against Tennessee rookie Will Levis, a second-round pick who missed one game after suffering an ankle injury late in the loss to the Texans.
“We've got to appreciate the work we've put in (and) keep building for, hopefully, making the playoffs,” Stroud said. “That's definitely the goal. We have to start with Tennessee, a really hard challenge. They played us really tough. (Coach) Mike Vrabel does a great job of mixing up the defense.”
In practice this week, the coaches haven’t seen anything that would indicate Stroud isn’t 100 percent as he prepares for his 14th start.
“Yesterday and today, it felt like I didn't miss (any time) at all,” he said. (Quarterbacks coach) Jerrod (Johnson) has done a good job of getting me back in rhythm and getting my timing down. He’s done a good job of putting me in live game situations. Hopefully, I’ll come back and do as well or better (than) I've been doing. (I’m) excited for the next (two) games and this opportunity.”
As soon as Stroud takes his first snap against the Titans, coach DeMeco Ryans knows what he’ll be looking for.
“You’re looking for efficiency, being able to command the huddle and being efficient with the plays we’re asking him to run,” Ryans said. “Just looking for him to be comfortable in the moment. The main thing is that you want to keep the defenders off him as much as possible so we don’t have another hit to make him go backward. We have to make sure we’re protecting him, pressing forward and moving the football.”
The Texans weren’t protecting Stroud very well when he was injured. He’d been sacked 13 times in his last three games. Offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik has to call plays – at least until Stroud gets into a rhythm – that require him to get rid of the ball quickly.
“I always start with the feet,” Slowik said about what he’ll be looking at first when Stroud drops back to pass. “I think feet are a great indication of how comfortable and confident (a quarterback) is. Then how fast the ball’s coming out of his hands. Part of that's going to be me, what play I call. How fast he can snap through progressions usually is tied to the feet.
“I think you aren't going to know until the game. I’ve been around guys that can be out a couple of weeks, come back in, and it's like they never left. There's a lot of other guys that are out a couple of weeks, and when they come back in, some rust needs to get knocked off. That’s something you’ve got to see and react to as it goes, but (we’re) in playoff mode, so we're doing everything we can to make sure we can operate the best our offense can.”
Slowik said in practice this week that Stroud has looked as good as ever. The coaches continue to be impressed with their prized rookie who has 20 touchdown passes and five interceptions – the second-best ratio in the league.
“He's got an energy about him, an edge to him,” Slowik said. “He's a great competitor. He carries himself the right way, approaches every day, every practice, every game the right way.
“There are intangibles that aren’t football-related that I think a lot of guys feed off of. When he's in the huddle -- the command (and) confidence he has, the ability to execute. It's really the intangibles that makes C.J. such a special kid and so valuable to us.”
And Stroud’s value to the team will be at the forefront of the Texans’ ability to win the last two games, finish 10-7 and earn a playoff berth that few believed possible when the season began.
John McClain can be heard Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday on SportsRadio 610 and Monday, Thursday and Sunday on Texans Radio, also on SportsRadio 610. He writes five columns a week and does three Houtopia Football Podcasts for SportsRadio610.com.