C.J. Stroud is Back With a Chance to Get the Offense, and Houston's Playoff Hopes, Rolling
The Texans have their starter back from his concussion
C.J. Stroud is back. He cleared concussion protocol this week and will take over as the starting quarterback again.
“I’m excited to be back, blessed,” Stroud said. “Super grateful to be able to be healthy again and have some peace knowing that my body and my brain and my thoughts feel pure and clean. So, it’s a blessing. I took it one day at a time. It was eye opening to get a bird’s eye view, which I haven’t had in a long time.”
While Stroud was out, Davis Mills held down the quarterback spot and the team won three games. The team is in the thick of the AFC Wild Card picture and has an opportunity to get back into the division race.
The defense is playing at a world-class level. The offense needs to catch up.
Stroud has an opportunity to improve on what Mills and the offense cobbled together in his absence. It wasn’t excellent, but there were good moments. The offensive line played better for Mills and was more consistent. Nick Caley had moments where he executed his role better. Jayden Higgins has started to get going.
“When I get back, I got to make sure I make plays and put these guys in position to win and reward them for stops and then turnovers,” Stroud said. He also said the offense can take another step.
If they do, Stroud has to get them there. His results pre-concussion were underwhelming, but he’d started to find a groove. The performance against the San Francisco 49ers was one of his best games this season. He looked like he was going to have a solid day against the Denver Broncos before his injury.
Now the team’s franchise quarterback has six games to recapture some of his previous success and help the offense help the defense. An impressive offense, even a consistently solid offense, should make the Texans true contenders in a wide-open conference.
Stroud has a chance to regain his status as a franchise-level quarterback in this final month-plus of games. The Texans have a chance to secure a playoff spot and possibly even a division title. If Stroud’s return is the catalyst for the offense becoming consistently positive, it goes a long way toward helping the Texans achieve their goals this season. They wanted to go further than the previous two years.
It would also help answer some lingering questions about Stroud’s long-term potential at the quarterback spot.
There should be hope for Stroud to do this as he starts again. If that hope is rewarded, the Texans will be in an excellent spot.
One Player to Watch
Jalen Pitre is the player to watch in this game. He, like C.J. Stroud, is returning from a concussion. The Texans have turned in some impressive defensive performances without Pitre, but DeMeco Ryans said Pitre allows them to open up the whole playbook on defense. The thought of the defense adding a player like Pitre, who has been playing excellently this season, should scare the Indianapolis Colts. Pitre will be needed in the effort to stop Jonathan Taylor.
One Matchup to Watch
Sauce Gardner and Nico Collins are the matchup to watch. The two have barely played against each other. Collins left the 2023 game against the New York Jets with a calf injury after his lone catch of the game. Collins was out with a hamstring injury last year when the Texans visited the Jets. Collins is averaging three catches and 153 yards in his last three games against the Colts. He’s owned them, especially at Lucas Oil Stadium.
One Stat to Watch
The Indianapolis Colts have allowed 21 sacks of Daniel Jones this season. They allowed nine in their first eight games. They have allowed 12 sacks in their last three games. Indianapolis has allowed more quarterback pressure this season than the offensive line of the Houston Texans. Jones will be trying to escape the ferocious pass rush of the Texans with a fractured fibula. There is potential for the defense of the Texans to take this game over.
Score Prediction
The Houston Texans win 24-10. Daniel Jones is showing signs of regression, he’s hurt, and the Texans have done a good job against impressive rushers this season. Jonathan Taylor is scary, and the way the Colts could win this game. Houston held James Cook in check last game after a hot start. Christian McCaffrey had trouble against Houston. Taylor won’t have an easy day. The defense is feeling themselves. The offense hopefully gets a boost from Stroud’s return. Texans put the AFC South on notice with a solid win.