HOUSTON – Texans rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud remains under the mandatory NFL concussion protocol with his symptoms, including a sensitivity to light and loud noises, subsiding as he’s made progress to the point where there’s an increased chance he resumes some activities next week, according to league sources.
Stroud has been at the Texans’ training facility for a daily concussion test under the neurological baseline exam and has interacted with teammates, per sources.
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Stroud is out for his second consecutive game Sunday against the Cleveland Browns after suffering the head injury against the New York Jets on a late hit by defensive tackle Quinnen Williams.
Stroud was officially ruled out Friday along with defensive end Will Anderson Jr. (high-ankle sprain) and linebacker Blake Cashman (hamstring strain).
And veteran quarterback Case Keenum is set to start against the Browns for his second consecutive game with the first-team offense, per sources.
Stroud was not medically cleared and didn’t practice all week.
“He’s doing better, improving,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said Wednesday. “He’s still in protocol.”
Ryans was asked if Stroud could potentially not return this season, answering, ‘No.’
“Oh, why do you say that? Don’t shock me like that,’ Ryans said with a laugh. “Wow. No, we’re going through the protocol. Each person, each concussion is different. Each person, it takes a different amount of time for each person to heal, just like with anything else.
“He’s just going through the protocol just like everyone else has throughout – whenever they’ve been in the concussion protocol. At the end of the day, the most important thing is making sure that C.J. is healthy. When he’s ready to go, he’ll be ready to go. I’ll let you guys know.”
Keenum, 35, led the Texans to a 19-16 overtime win over the Tennessee Titans. He threw a touchdown and passed for 239 yards with one interception returned
“The thing that’s helped Case the most I think is experience,” Ryans said. “When you’ve played the position for such a long time, you have to have that experience. But it’s also that experience that gives you confidence. When you’ve done it multiple times, you’ve seen multiple defenses and how teams try to attack you, nothing should shock Case.
“He’s seen a little bit of everything. He’s calm, he does a great job of operating presnap. Does a great job of commanding the huddle and making the other guys around him better.”
Meanwhile, Texans safety Jimmie Ward, a team captain, took another positive step toward playing Sunday against the Browns. He has practiced two days in a row and is no longer wearing the red non-contact jersey.
Anderson Jr. and Cashman will miss their second consecutive game, per sources, and are not healthy enough to return to practice.
Anderson is out of the walking boot and his mobility is improving, per sources, and Cashman has been running.
Wide receiver Nico Collins said he’s playing Sunday and has been trending in a positive direction with multiple sources predicting he will at least be active against Cleveland, per sources. He is listed as questionable on the injury report, though, due to a strained calf that forced him to miss one game earlier this season.
Collins is the leading receiver on the roster with 60 receptions for 1,004 yards and six touchdowns. His potential return could provide a boost to an offense being led by Keenum again.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins (hip) and linebacker Denzel Perryman (concussion) are questionable, but sources emphasized both will play Sunday.
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com