Houston Texans rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud was a limited participant at practice Wednesday after missing the last two games while in concussion protocol.
In his absence, the Texans (8-7) defeated the Tennessee Titans on the road in overtime in Week 15 before losing by 14 points at home against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.
Stroud, 22, was injured in the fourth quarter of Houston’s Week 14 loss to the New York Jets when his head bounced off the turf after a hit by defensive tackle Quinnen Williams.
Stroud was in stage four of the NFL’s concussion protocol, according to head coach DeMeco Ryans, and still needs to get through one more stage in order to be cleared to play in a game.
“We’re just looking for efficiency, being able to command a huddle, being efficient with the plays that we’re asking him to run,” Ryans said Wednesday. “… You’re looking for him to be comfortable in the moment. And the main thing is you want to keep the defenders off of him as much as possible, so we don’t have another hit and make him go backwards. We want to make sure we’re protecting him.”
Stroud, the No. 2 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Ohio State, ranked second in the NFL in passing yards (3,631) and had the fifth-best passer rating (98.7) in the league at the time of his injury in Week 14.
The NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year favorite has completed 62.4 percent of his passes with 20 touchdowns and five interceptions in 13 starts. Stroud has also rushed for 143 yards and three scores.
The Texans, Indianapolis Colts and Jacksonville Jaguars all have 8-7 records in the AFC South. Houston hosts the Tennessee Titans (5-10) on Sunday.
