Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud will miss his second consecutive game due to a concussion. Who will start in place of Stroud?
C.J. Stroud To Miss Week 11
#Texans not practicing and out for #Titans game: C.J. Stroud, Jalen Pitre, Ka'imi Fairbairn
Not practicing and not ruled out: Dalton Schultz, Harrison Bryant
Limited: Jake Hansen, Ed Ingram, Cade Stover, Denico Autry
Full: Azeez Al-Shaair, Davis Mills, Jakob Johnson, Christian…— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) November 13, 2025
Stroud will not be under center for the Texans in Week 11.
Coach DeMeco Ryans announced that Davis Mills will start in place of Stroud when the Texans visit the Tennessee Titans in Week 11.
Stroud suffered a concussion in Week 9’s loss to the Denver Broncos. As Stroud attempted to slide on a third-down play, Broncos cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine hit the Texans’ quarterback in the chest, which caused his head to hit the turf.
Stroud exited the game and has not played since.
Mills relieved Stroud in the Broncos’ game, finishing 17 of 30 for 137 yards. The Broncos won the game 18-15 on a last-second field goal.
Stroud’s concussion kept him out of the Texans’ Week 10 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Heading into the fourth quarter, the Jaguars held a 29-10 lead over the Texans. Houston went on to score 26 unanswered points to pull off an improbable comeback and win 36-29.
Mills finished 27 of 45 for 292 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception in the victory. Mills rushed for a 14-yard touchdown with 31 seconds left to give the Texans a 30-29 lead.
Houston’s Will Anderson Jr. recovered a Trevor Lawrence fumble as time expired and returned it for a touchdown to secure the Texans’ victory.
Houston Texans’ Outlook for the Rest of the Season
New fit, who dis. pic.twitter.com/uxweInQ8bP
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) November 13, 2025
Heading into Week 11, the Texans are in third place in the AFC South with a 4-5 record.
The win over the Jaguars essentially kept their postseason hopes alive.
Even with Mills playing for Stroud, the Texans cannot lose to the 1-8 Tennessee Titans in Week 11. It’s a must-win game.
Stroud could also miss Week 12 due to the quick turnaround. The Texans host the Buffalo Bills in Week 12 on Thursday Night Football. At the very minimum, the Texans must split their next two games.
If Houston is 5-6 heading into Week 13, they still have a chance to make up ground in the Wild Card race.
The Texans are currently in ninth place in the AFC, two spots outside of the last playoff seed.
Houston’s defense is the best unit in the NFL. The Texans rank 1st in total defense (261.3 yards per game), 1st in scoring defense (16.7 points per game), second in run defense (90.3 yards per game), and fourth in passing defense (171.0 yards per game).
The inconsistent offense, which ranks 19th in scoring (22.7 points per game), has been the issue.
The Texans hit the road to face the Titans on Nov. 16.
