Texans 'In Trouble'? '5 Best Players' OUT vs. Titans

Houston Texans 'In Trouble'? C.J. Stroud Among '5 Best Players' OUT vs. Tennessee Titans

The Houston Texans, at their best, have established that they've earned the dream of a massive turnaround and a playoff chase. They are 7-6, and even after the Colts' win on Saturday, they are nipping at the leaders in the AFC South, including the 8-5 Jaguars.

But on this NFL Week 15 Sunday? They are going into their matchup with another AFC South foe - the last-place Tennessee Titans - absent five key players.

Out is rookie QB sensation C.J. Stroud due to his concussion. Receiver Tank Dell (leg) is unavailable as he's out for the year. And receiver Nico Collins (calf) won't play today, either. Nor will top rookie defensive and Will Anderson Jr. or linebacker Blake Cashman.

And as pointed out by our friends at Toro Times, those are "arguably the five best Texans players and are the five-highest-rated players on Pro Football Focus for the team.''

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Can this offense operate without Collins, Dell, and Stroud ... as 35-year-old Case Keenum leaps into the QB driver's seat of the offense? Can the Texans defense deal with a Titans squad that has struggled to a 5-8 record but seems to have some life with rookie QB Will Levis taking over an offense that features all-time vets Derrick Henry and old pal DeAndre Hopkins?

Keenum To Start As Texans Officially Rule Out C.J. Stroud

This figures to be another-level test for rookie coach DeMeco Ryans and his staff. The Titans have long had a penchant for playing teams close, for keeping scores low, and for trying to grind out success.

For the Texans to beat the Titans today - for them to do it without "their five best players''? A Houston grind-it-out approach might be needed.