The return timeline for Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud is growing more uncertain by the day. He suffered the concussion in the second quarter of Houston’s Week 9 loss to the Denver Broncos, and he hasn’t taken the field since. And now, according to the latest report by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, it looks like he might be out for a while. 

“Texans QB C.J. Stroud is out for Sunday’s game against the Titans,” wrote Adam Schefter via X.

“And with Houston having a short week ahead of Thursday night’s game against Buffalo, it remains uncertain whether its starting quarterback will be able to clear concussion protocol in time to play the Bills, per source.”

That’s not a great sign for Texans fans hoping for a quick comeback from the QB. C.J. Stroud hasn’t appeared in either of this week’s open media sessions. He remains in the protocol with teammates Tytus Howard and Jalen Pitre. Under NFL rules, C.J. Stroud must be symptom-free and complete two full practices before doctors can clear him. But he hasn’t met those requirements.

This leaves the Texans facing a critical stretch without their franchise quarterback. C.J. Stroud has been ruled out of the Week 11 game against the Tennessee Titans. Without Stroud, the Texans’ offense will lose its rhythm and identity. And that’s not an exaggeration. Stroud’s numbers alone tell the story.

C.J. Stroud has a 93.4 passer rating, 1,702 yards, 11 touchdowns, and five interceptions in 8 games this season before suffering a concussion. Now, the Texans still don’t know if C.J. Stroud will be ready to play against the Buffalo Bills next week. After that, the team faces a massive Week 13 showdown with the Indianapolis Colts. That game could define the Texans’ playoff hopes.

For now, the Texans will once again turn to Davis Mills. But the backup QB didn’t produce big numbers when he replaced C.J. Stroud in Week 9. He threw for just 137 yards. Then in Week 10, he looked like a different quarterback. He sparked a 19-point fourth-quarter comeback for Houston to stun the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 10.

Davis Mills threw for 292 yards and 3 touchdowns in Week 10. He even sealed the game against the Jaguars with a game-winning touchdown run in the final 30 seconds. Should fans feel confident in Mills? After last week, it’s fair to say the backup QB earned some trust.

Texans’ head coach DeMeco Ryans had even praised Davis Mills’ mindset post-game in Week 10. And if you ask Mills, he is more than ready to step up in place of C.J. Stroud.

“Obviously, I’m ready,” said Mills after the Jaguars game. “That’s kind of how I prepare week in, week out. I’ve always had the mindset that you could play at any given snap. Unfortunately, what happened to C.J. in the game, I got thrown in there. But that’s what I get paid to do. Always be prepared, and it’s nice having a full week of practice going into this game to attack this defense and go out there and lead the guys.” 

The Texans sit at 4-5 with the wild card still within reach. And their comeback win last week kept their season alive. But let’s be honest. Their bigger dreams hinge on C.J. Stroud’s availability. 

What do we know about C.J. Stroud’s concussion so far?

On November 2, C.J. Stroud got hurt on a scramble against the Broncos when Kris Abrams-Draine hit him on the shoulder as he slid. The back of Stroud’s head then hit the turf hard. The Texans ruled him out immediately and replaced him with Davis Mills. 

On November 7, C.J. Stroud’s mother, Kimberly, then provided a hopeful update on his situation. She mentioned that her son is “progressing day by day.” She also made it clear that Stroud wants to play and is doing better each day. But then, on November 12, Aaron Wilson of Click2Houston.com reported that C.J. Stroud still had symptoms and had not joined practice. Later, DeMeco Ryans offered little clarity on the quarterback’s recovery. 

“We’ll see how they progress throughout the week,” said DeMeco Ryans while talking about C.J. Stroud’s recovery along with other players.

The head coach’s tone made one thing clear: the Texans won’t rush their star quarterback. Why? One reason might be the fact that this isn’t the QB’s first concussion. C.J. Stroud dealt with one in 2023 and missed two games. That history explains the team’s caution. Therefore, the Texans will have to sit now with some uncertainty as Stroud needs to take time to recover.