CJ Stroud ruled out with concussion ahead of Texans' pivotal showdown vs Bills

The Houston Texans volition beryllium without starting backmost C.J. Stroud successful their pivotal matchup against the Buffalo Bills connected Thursday. 

Head manager DeMeco Ryans told reporters connected Tuesday that Stroud is doing amended and progressing, but determination isn't capable clip for the backmost to wide concussion protocol with the abbreviated turnaround. 

Stroud, 24, volition miss his 3rd consecutive crippled aft sustaining a concussion successful the team’s 18-15 nonaccomplishment to the Denver Broncos earlier this month. Backup backmost Davis Mills has been starting successful spot of Stroud, and is 2-0.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM 

Houston Texans backmost C.J. Stroud (7) drops to propulsion during the archetypal fractional against the Denver Broncos astatine NRG Stadium successful Houston, Texas, connected Nov. 2, 2025. (Sean Thomas/Imagn Images)

Mills led a thrilling 4th fourth comeback against the Jacksonville Jaguars successful his archetypal start. The 27-year-old completed 27 of 45 passes for 292 yards with 2 touchdowns and 1 interception successful the win, portion moving for 20 yards and a touchdown successful the 36-29 win.  

In Mills’ 2nd start, the Texans hardly sneaked by the lowly Tennessee Titans, beating them 16-13 to amended to 5-5 connected the season. Mills completed 26 of 41 passes for 174 yards and a touchdown. 

COWBOYS LINEMAN DRAWS UNNECESSARY ROUGHNESS PENALTY AFTER DRAMATIC FLOP

Houston Texans backmost C.J. Stroud warms up earlier an NFL shot crippled against the Denver Broncos connected Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, successful Houston. (Eric Christian Smith/AP Photo)

While Mills has played good and kept the Texans successful the playoff hunt, the squad hopes Stroud continues to advancement done the concussion protocol. If each goes good for the erstwhile Ohio State star, helium could instrumentality for the team’s Week 13 crippled against the Indianapolis Colts.

In 8 games this season, Stroud has completed 66.5% of his passes for 1,702 yards with 11 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. 

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP 

Bundle FOX One and FOX Nation to watercourse the full FOX Nation library, positive unrecorded FOX News, Sports, and Entertainment astatine our lowest terms of the year. The connection ends connected Jan. 4, 2026. (Fox One; Fox Nation)

The Texans are 1 crippled down the Jacksonville Jaguars (6-4) for the No. 7 effect successful the AFC playoffs and request to get blistery down the agelong to marque the postseason. 

The Texans’ playoff propulsion volition proceed connected Thursday erstwhile they instrumentality connected the Bills (7-3) without Stroud astatine 8:15 p.m. ET.