How Did C.J. Stroud Injury Update Impact Browns vs. Texans Spread?

After opening the week as a slight home favorite, the spread for Browns, Texans has now be altered by news that rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud is unlikely to play

Las Vegas spreads are a fickle, fickle thing.

The Houston Texans initially opened up as -2.5-point favorites over the Cleveland Browns this weekend. However, with news coming down overnight that rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud will likely not play for a second consecutive week due as he deals with a concussion, the spread has now shifted.

According to the SI Sportsbook, it's the Browns who are now favored to win by the exact same figure Houston opened up as a favorite, 2.5 points.

Cleveland is no stranger to seeing lines move due to quarterback injuries, considering Joe Flacco is the fourth QB to start for it this season. For the second time in three weeks the Browns are seeing their opponent's line impacted by the health of its QB as the same thing happened two weeks back when there was uncertainty about Trevor Lawrence's availability for Jacksonville. Lawrence had suffered a high ankle sprain on Monday Night Football in Week 14, but wound up playing against Cleveland.

While the Browns are now considered favorites to win in the eyes of the oddsmakers, the Texans are still a formidable team even without Stroud. In his absence this past weekend, they pulled out a 19-16, overtime win over the Titans with ex-Brown, Case Keenum under center.

Keenum threw for 229 yards, one touchdown and one interception in the win. He would be Houston's starter again if Stroud can't go. Now, the Titans defense certainly isn't on the level of Cleveland's this year, but there are some major statistical discrepancies that exist for that unit when they go on the road. Most notably, the Browns give up over 30 points per game on the road versus 13 points per game when they play at home.

For what it's worth, the Texans haven't officially ruled out Stroud for Sunday. He'll continue to try and progress through the league's concussion protocol this week in time to play Sunday. Any updates to the Ohio State product's status are likely to impact the line even more as the week progresses.