Quarterback CJ Stroud of the Texans confirms he will be the starting quarterback against the Titans after recovering from a concussion.
HOUSTON – Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud announced on Thursday that he will be starting this weekend against the Tennessee Titans, marking his return after missing two games due to recovery from a concussion.
Reflecting on his absence, Stroud acknowledged the challenge and expressed gratitude to his team for holding their own during his absence. He said, “But my team, they held it down as best as they could and I appreciate that. Now I’m back and I’m happy to be here. I’m happy to just do my job again. It was tough but we’re through it now and I’m excited to play.”
Stroud sustained his concussion in a loss to the New York Jets on Dec. 10 when his head struck the turf following a hit in the fourth quarter. Describing it as one of the worst concussions he has experienced, he explained, “I’ve had concussions before but this one was probably the worst one I’ve had just because I hit the back of my head and I hit the ground really hard. So that was what made it so bad… I (basically) hit my head on cement.”
The return of Stroud is anticipated to significantly boost the Texans, who won against the Titans in overtime but suffered losses in the last two weeks with Case Keenum filling in for the star rookie. Drafted second overall, Stroud has accumulated 3,631 passing yards and 20 touchdowns with just five interceptions this season.
Sunday’s game holds considerable importance for the Texans (8-7), as they are still in the running for both the AFC South title and a wild-card playoff spot. However, a loss on Sunday would diminish their postseason chances to just 13%, jeopardizing their bid for the playoffs for the first time since 2019.
During his recovery, Stroud watched the team’s games on television and started feeling better around the time of Houston’s first matchup against Tennessee. He mentioned facing vision issues initially, preventing him from watching games. Despite the difficulties, he stayed positive, stayed connected with the team, and received support from his family. Stroud reflected on the experience, saying, “It was another piece of adversity that I’m faced with and how am I going to react… so I just tried to stay calm.”
