why isn't cj stroud playing

C.J. Stroud has missed games because he suffered a concussion in a Week 9 matchup against the Denver Broncos and had to work through the NFL’s concussion protocol, which temporarily sidelined him.

What happened to C.J. Stroud?

• Stroud took a hard hit to the head while running and then sliding during the Texans’ Week 9 game versus Denver, which led to a diagnosed concussion.

• After that game, he was placed in the league’s concussion protocol and was ruled out for subsequent weeks while he recovered.

Why he wasn’t playing

• Because of the concussion, Stroud was ruled out for at least three straight games (Weeks 10–12), including a prime-time matchup against the Buffalo Bills.

• During that stretch, backup quarterback Davis Mills started in his place while the Texans monitored Stroud’s progress and limited him to light or partial practices.

Latest status and return

• Reports indicated that Stroud was progressing well through protocol and participating in limited practice sessions, a sign that he was nearing a return.

• By late November 2025, team updates stated that he had cleared concussion protocol and was set to start in Week 13 against the Indianapolis Colts, marking his return after the multi-game absence.

Bottom note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.