Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud has been ruled out for Week 10 against the Jacksonville Jaguars due to a concussion sustained last week. Veteran Davis Mills will make his first start since 2022 in Stroud's place. The Texans, sitting at 3-5, face a Jaguars team with a vulnerable pass defense.
The Houston Texans will be without their starting quarterback C.J. Stroud for their Week 10 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Coach DeMeco Ryans confirmed Wednesday that Stroud remains in concussion protocol following a hit he took while sliding during last week's loss to the Denver Broncos. Stroud exited early in the second quarter and was ruled out for the rest of that game.
Davis Mills, a 2021 sixth-round pick, steps in for his first start in four years. Mills has appeared in two games this season as Stroud's relief, having made 25 starts in his first two seasons with Houston. The Texans are struggling at 3-5, trailing the Colts and Jaguars in the AFC South. Their offense ranks second-to-last in the NFL on third downs, and both sides have issues in the red zone.
Stroud, in his third season, has completed a career-high 66.5% of his passes but ranks 19th league-wide in passing touchdowns. He has thrown just five interceptions this year, down from a career-high 12 in 2024.
The Jaguars, under first-year coach Liam Cohen, present an opportunity despite their pass defense ranking 27th in yards allowed and 29th in touchdown passes surrendered. However, Jacksonville leads the NFL with 11 interceptions through eight games.
This injury adds to a challenging season for Houston after back-to-back AFC South titles and playoff appearances.