Is C.J. Stroud playing this week? Latest news, updates on Texans QB’s status for Week 12 vs. Bills originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Houston Texans have gotten by just fine without QB C.J. Stroud, winning back-to-back games with their star in concussion protocol, but his status looms large ahead of ‘Thursday Night Football.”
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The Texans’ offense has struggled for the bulk of its two games with backup Davis Mills under center, with the exception of a dominant fourth quarter in a comeback win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Mills and the Texans needed a late scoring drive to avoid an upset against the dismal Tennessee Titans in Week 11, and more offensive firepower might be needed to topple Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills.
On a short week, will Stroud be ready to suit up as the Texans try to climb above .500?
Here’s what you need to know about Stroud’s status for Thursday night.
MORE:Updated NFL playoff picture entering Week 12
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Is C.J. Stroud playing this week?
Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said Monday that Stroud remains in concussion protocol, putting the quarterback’s status for Thursday up in the air.
Stroud did not participate in the Texans’ Monday walkthrough, the Houston Chronicle said, and players in concussion protocol must participate in two practices while remaining symptom-free before they can play in a game. Given the short week, that means Stroud will have to practice in some form on Tuesday to have a chance to play Thursday.
Stroud was concussed in a narrow loss to the Denver Broncos and missed games against both the Jaguars and Titans while in the protocol.
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Who is C.J. Stroud’s backup?
Davis Mills is Stroud’s backup and has started the last two games with the former No. 2 pick in concussion protocol.
A third-round pick in 2021, Mills showed flashes as a rookie and started all but two games for the Texans in 2022 before the franchise drafted Stroud in 2023. Since then, Mills has stayed on as Houston’s No. 2 quarterback — but he didn’t make any starts in 2023 or 2024.
Mills has thrown for 566 yards, three touchdowns and one interception over his two starts this season, winning both games.
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MORE:Where Texans rank in latest NFL power rankings
Texans QB depth chart
Rank
Quarterback
No. 1
C.J. Stroud
No. 2
Davis Mills
No. 3
Graham Mertz
Stroud remains the Texans’ unquestioned starter and franchise quarterback when healthy, even in what has been an up-and-down season, but Mills is quickly becoming one of Houston’s longest-tenured players in his fifth season with the team. The Stanford product has a 7-19-1 record after helping to guide the Texans through some of their darkest years.
Rookie sixth-round pick Graham Mertz will be Mills’ backup if Stroud can’t play. A former Wisconsin starter, he spent six seasons at the collegiate level, struggling at times but tossing 20 touchdowns to just three interceptions in 2023 before suffering a season-ending injury early in the 2024 campaign.