'I'm Back!' Texans QB C.J. Stroud Eager to Return to Action After Concussion Recovery

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud is expected to return to the starting role this week against the Tennessee Titans.

The Houston Texans did not have a great holiday after falling to the Cleveland Browns 36-22 on Christmas Eve, but perhaps Santa's gift to the organization just took a little extra time to reach the Lone Star State.

News broke this week that rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud was returning to practice after finally clearing concussion protocol, and the expectation is that he will start this week when the Texans face the Tennessee Titans at home. Stroud was made available to the media on Thursday where he discussed his progress and anticipation to return to the field of play.

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“It’s great being back,” Stroud said. “I missed it. I feel like everything that happened, I don’t want to say, happened for a reason, but it was kind of something that I guess God wanted me to go through. It was tough. It wasn’t easy, but my teammates held it down as best as they could, and I appreciate them for that. Now I’m back, and I’m happy to be here, and I’m happy just to do my job again.”

Stroud has suffered injuries before, but he admitted that this round with a concussion was different than the rest due to its severity.

“Injuries are a part of the game,” Stroud said. “I feel like concussions are a little different. I’ve had concussions before, but this one was probably the worst one I’ve had just because I hit the back of my head, and I hit the ground really hard. That was what made it so bad. I damn near hit my head on cement, kind of. It was cold, and the turf, I guess, isn’t the best I’ve learned. It is what it is, and I’m just happy to be back.”

Texans vs. Titans Preview: Welcome Back, C.J. Stroud

The young signal-caller will have to quickly shake off any rust he may have accumulated over the last two weeks as the Texans need wins to close out the regular season to boost their playoff hopes. If the season ended today, Houston would be on the outside looking in on the AFC's playoff picture, but two wins down the stretch could change that.

Kickoff on Sunday between Houston and Tennessee is scheduled for 12 p.m. CT, and the game will be televised on FOX.