C.J. Stroud Shakes Off the Rust in Return, Texans Top Colts Ahead of Crucial Clash with Chiefs
It wasn’t a flawless return for C.J. Stroud, but it was exactly what the Houston Texans needed.
After missing three games due to a concussion, the rookie quarterback was back under center in Week 13, guiding the Texans to a hard-fought divisional win over the Indianapolis Colts. It wasn’t always pretty, but in December football-especially with playoff implications on the line-style points don’t matter.
Wins do. And Houston got one.
Stroud’s return couldn’t have come at a more pivotal time. The Texans are in the thick of a crowded AFC playoff race, and the Colts came into the game leading the AFC South.
With the Jaguars, Colts, and Texans all jockeying for position, Houston needed its young leader back. And while Stroud showed some expected rust after nearly a month away, he did enough to steady the ship and help the Texans escape Indianapolis with a 20-17 win.
Now, all eyes turn to Arrowhead Stadium, where the Texans will face the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 14-a game that suddenly carries major weight for both teams.
Let’s rewind for a moment. Stroud was knocked out of action back in Week 9 after taking a hit from Broncos defensive back Kris Abrams-Draine.
He entered the concussion protocol and missed three straight games. In his absence, Davis Mills stepped in and, to his credit, kept the Texans afloat with three straight wins over the Jaguars, Titans, and Bills.
That stretch kept Houston’s playoff hopes alive and allowed Stroud to return without the pressure of salvaging a sinking season.
Against the Colts, Stroud completed 22 of 35 passes for 276 yards. He didn’t throw a touchdown and was picked off once, but he managed the offense well enough to keep drives alive and put points on the board. The Texans leaned on their defense-which continues to be one of the league’s stingiest units-to hold off a Colts offense that’s been more dangerous than expected under Shane Steichen.
Houston’s head coach DeMeco Ryans was encouraged by what he saw from his quarterback, acknowledging the bumps but focusing on the bigger picture.
“I thought C.J. did a really nice job coming back after missing a lot of time,” Ryans said postgame. “I know some throws he would like to have back, but overall, I thought he managed the drives really well.
We drove down… of course, we want to score on some of those. We’d get down and have to kick field goals.
But overall, for him coming back not having played in a few weeks here, I thought he did a really nice job. If this is where he started, it’s only up for him, so I’m excited to see how he continues to progress.”
That’s the key takeaway here: Stroud didn’t need to be perfect. He just needed to get back into rhythm-and he did.
His timing was off at times, and there were a few misfires, but he looked comfortable in the pocket and didn’t shy away from contact or pressure. For a quarterback coming off a concussion, that’s a big deal.
What makes this Texans team dangerous right now is that Stroud doesn’t have to carry the offense on his shoulders. Houston’s defense is doing the heavy lifting.
They’ve been dominant, physical, and opportunistic-exactly the kind of unit that can win games in December. That gives Stroud the freedom to play within himself, avoid costly mistakes, and let the game come to him.
At 7-5, the Texans now hold a one-game edge over the 6-6 Chiefs in the AFC standings. But they’re still chasing both the Jaguars and Colts, who sit at 8-4.
That makes Week 14 in Kansas City a virtual must-win for both sides. The AFC South is unlikely to send three teams to the postseason, so if Houston wants to keep pace-and maybe even push for the division-they’ll need to keep this momentum rolling.
The good news? Their quarterback is back. And while he might not be firing on all cylinders just yet, he’s trending in the right direction.