Houston Texans vs. Tennessee Titans Preview: C.J. Stroud Injury Demands Defense Steps Up

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud is still in concussion protocol, putting his Week 15 in doubt. His absence would put pressure on Houston's defense to save the season.

Playing meaningful December games is one thing. Winning them is another.

The Houston Texans fell flat against the New York Jets in Week 14, losing 30-6 and watching their playoff odds tumble. Those chances only got worse when quarterback C.J. Stroud hit the turf hard and exited with a concussion.

As of Thursday’s practice, Stroud had not graduated to the non-contact portion of the league’s concussion protocol. He’s trending toward missing Sunday’s action in Nashville against a Tennessee Titans team galvanized by their recent comeback over the Miami Dolphins.

Texans QB C.J. Stroud is expected to miss Week 15's game / © Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

If Houston backup Davis Mills does indeed get the start, he’ll do so with a chance to bring the Texans to about a coin-flip chance of making the January dance. A loss, however, would drop them to approximately 25 percent, per Sumer Sports.

Simply put, this Texans defense needs to step up. The unit has teetered around league average for some time but has festered a bad habit: unproven quarterbacks keep showing out. Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young has his only win against Houston. New York Jets passer Zach Wilson had his best game of the season against the Texans' defense. The same can be said for Baker Mayfield, too, though he did not escape with a win.

Against the Jacksonville Jaguars, explosive plays were given up left and right. Despite Tennessee’s inconsistencies, they too can create the big play. Rookie quarterback Will Levis is averaging more air yards per attempt than any qualified passer, receiver DeAndre Hopkins is in line for a revenge game, and running back Derrick Henry has … a history of destroying Houston.

Time and time again, Stroud and the offense carried their weight and then some. That isn’t to say the defense hasn’t had its clutch moments, but the time to step up is now. Containing Henry and putting enough pressure on Levis to keep the passing offense out of sync will be massive in a game that could very well be a race to 20.

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WHAT: Houston Texans (7-6) vs. Tennessee Titans (5-8)

WHERE: Nissan Stadium, Nashville, TN (69,143)

WHEN: Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, 12 p.m. (CT)

TELEVISION: CBS

RADIO: SportRadio 610 AM, 100.3 FM The Bull

ODDS: Texans +3.5 (-125), +135 Moneyline, Total: 36.5 (o -125,u +100)