The Houston Texans arrive at Week 12 with uncertainty lingering around their franchise quarterback, and although the direction of the situation is finally turning, tension still surrounds the short week. The signs of progress are clear, but the timeline remains tight enough to keep the outcome in question until the team makes its call.
C.J. Stroud’s Recovery Entering Week 12
C.J. Stroud will not suit up against the Buffalo Bills on Thursday Night Football, but the broader picture has grown more optimistic. The third-year quarterback returned to practice on Tuesday after missing the last two games with a concussion, yet the compressed schedule worked against him.
According to ESPN’s DJ Bien-Aime, “Stroud is expected to be available to play against the Indianapolis Colts (8-2) on the road in Week 13, sources told ESPN.” That phrasing offers the clearest indication that the Texans view his absence as temporary rather than a continued setback.
Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 further detailed the progress earlier in the week, reporting on X that “Symptoms of sensitivity to light and headaches subsided for #Texans QB C.J. Stroud, per sources.” Head coach DeMeco Ryans later confirmed Stroud’s status for Week 12, ruling him out despite the improvement.
Stroud’s current absence is the longest of his young career, totaling three games by the time the Texans meet the Bills. He suffered a concussion against the Denver Broncos when his head hit the turf during a scramble. This marks the second concussion of his career, and the Texans have relied on Davis Mills in relief.
Mills stepped in that day, completing 17 of 30 passes for 137 yards, and later started the following week while leading the Texans to a 36-29 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. As noted by PFSN’s Abhimanyu Chaudhary, the staff viewed the relief performance as part of its planning process for the subsequent games.
Chaudhary added that Stroud remained in the protocol ahead of Week 11 and was unavailable for that matchup, leaving the Texans to start Mills again versus the Tennessee Titans. In the Jaguars’ win, Mills threw for 292 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception, a production that gave the coaching staff confidence as they navigated this stretch.
The statistical context from PFSN’s QB Impact metric adds further perspective on Stroud’s season. The metric lists him with a QB Impact Score of 75.1 for the 2025 season, matching the listed average.
It also shows Stroud ranked nineteenth for the season and 453rd overall since the 2000 season. He has played eight games and started all eight, completing 161 of 242 pass attempts for a completion rate of 66.5 percent.
These numbers highlight the level of performance the Texans are missing during his recovery.
The broader takeaway from all reporting is that the Texans believe Stroud is nearing readiness. His return to practice, the easing of symptoms, and the expectation for Week 13 collectively point to a recovery that is progressing as hoped. For now, the Texans will lean on Mills one more time, but the signs indicate that their starting quarterback is nearing the end of this interruption.
