The Houston Texans faced a series of setbacks in their recent 30-6 defeat against the New York Jets, losing rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud and top receiver Nico Collins during the game.
Stroud, who led the NFL in passing yards, is now in concussion protocol after a late hit from Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams caused the back of his helmet to hit the turf. This occurred with 6:43 left in the game. Stroud, visibly in pain, was attended to by the Texans’ training staff before being escorted to the locker room for further evaluation. Despite Williams’ hit seeming late, Texans coach DeMeco Ryans emphasized the need for better protection rather than dwelling on the collision.
On social media, Williams expressed his hope for Stroud’s well-being, wishing him “nothing but the best.” Next Gen Stats revealed that Stroud faced pressure on 44% of his dropbacks, resulting in four sacks and six additional hits. The rookie quarterback, who entered the game with 3,540 passing yards, ended with his lowest output of the season, completing 10 of 23 passes for 91 yards without any touchdowns or interceptions.
Texans right guard Shaq Mason acknowledged the offensive line’s collective shortcomings, emphasizing their responsibility to protect the quarterback. Backup quarterback Davis Mills took over for Stroud but struggled under the Jets’ defensive pressure, going 1-for-5 for 4 yards.
Mills expressed the difficulty of seeing Stroud go down, and if Stroud is sidelined, Mills will step in. With 26 career starts and a 5-20-1 record, Mills has thrown for 5,802 yards with 33 touchdowns and 25 interceptions.
In addition to Stroud, the Texans lost Nico Collins to a calf injury in the first offensive drive of the game. Although Collins surpassed 1,000 receiving yards for the season, reaching 1,004 yards, he left the game shortly thereafter.
Coach Ryans acknowledged the impact of Collins’ injury, contributing to the Texans’ season-low total offense of 135 yards. However, he credited the Jets for making plays, emphasizing that the outcome was determined by the opponents’ performance rather than individual injuries.
The Texans faced further challenges with key players already absent, including wide receiver Tank Dell and tight end Dalton Schultz. Linebacker Blake Cashman and cornerback Tavierre Thomas also suffered hamstring injuries during the game and did not return.
