Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, nickel Jalen Pitre officially cleared NFL concussion protocol, good to go against Colts

HOUSTON – Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud and nickel Jalen Pitre were officially cleared Friday from the mandatory NFL concussion protocol, and both are now good to go to return to action Sunday for a pivotal division game against the Indianapolis Colts.

Both players practiced all week and are back after missing the previous three games with concussions.

“We’re expecting both guys to participate on Sunday,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said after practice. “C.J. will be out there, but we just got to go out and all guys play together, all 11. We’re just making sure both guys are as healthy as can possibly be. We’re happy to have C.J. back.”

Stroud participated fully each day of practice this week. Pitre was upgraded to full participation Thursday after being limited Wednesday. Both returned to practice last week, but ran out of time to clear the protocol before a victory over the Buffalo Bills.

Stroud hasn’t experienced symptoms since returning to practice last week. He previously dealt with sensitivity to light and headaches, per sources. Pitre dealt with headaches. Neither player has an injury designation.

Backup quarterback Davis Mills went 3-0 as the replacement for an injured Stroud.

“I’m excited to be back, blessed, super grateful to be healthy again and have some peace, knowing that my body and my brain and my thoughts feel pure and clean,” Stroud said. “It’s a blessing. It was eye-opening to get a bird’s eye view, which I haven’t had in a long time.”

“I’m grateful for all the prayers. To the Broncos defense, hearing them praying for me, I really appreciated that. It wasn’t fun, I wanted to play really bad. I wanted to be back out there, but we put ourselves in a great position. I’m just really grateful to be back, finally.”

Stroud has completed 66.5 percent of his throws for 1,702 yards, 11 touchdowns and five interceptions for a 93.4 passer rating.

He was playing some of his best football under new offensive coordinator Nick Caley’s playbook before the injury, completing 30 of 39 passes for 318 yards, two touchdowns and one interception against the San Francisco 49ers. He went 6 of 10 for 79 yards against the Denver Broncos before sustaining a concussion while sliding on an unpenalized tackle to the upper body from corner Kris Abrams-Draine that sent the back of his helmet ricocheting off the ground. He suffered a similar style of hit and concussion as a rookie on a blow delivered by Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, who was then with the New York Jets.

“No, it’s part of the game,” Stroud said when asked if he was scared of the effects of the concussion. “It was kind of the same thing I had in 2023 against the Jets. They were the same situation, hit the back of my head and had a concussion. That one, I only missed two games. I think if we would have played the Bills on Sunday, I would have been able to go. We made the right call, our doctors, of holding me out.”

Stroud has no plans to dramatically change his style of play.

“I think when you think about getting hurt, you think about bad things, bad things happen,” Stroud said. “I’m going to play free and try my best to trust my instincts, do what I can, and, of course, stay healthy. I’ve trusted I play this game the right way and know when to slide, when not to. Try to do my best to protect myself as well, but I’m not going to second-guess that, just try to go play fast and have fun.”

Over the past few weeks, Stroud was able to observe Mills orchestrate the offense to three consecutive wins and listen to Caley and his play-calling process.

“I got to hear Cales and his process a little bit more, which is helpful,” Stroud said. “I think as the season goes on, we get on chord more and more and more. It was helpful in that area as well.”

Stroud is 3-1 all-time against the Colts with seven touchdowns and zero interceptions.

“I always love playing in Indy against the Colts,” Stroud said. “It’s a great environment, great fan base. They’ve always been a really good team, really good defense. It’s going to be cracking. They’re going to be playing hard, we’re going to be playing hard. It’s very exciting, really cool that I get to come back this game.”

Pitre, a Stafford graduate who signed a three-year, $42 million contract extension in the offseason, has intercepted three passes this season.

“I’m very thankful,” Pitre said. “It felt like it was a year in itself, but I’m excited to get back out there with the guys and just contribute to some more winning.”

Texans Pro Bowl defensive end Will Anderson Jr. returned to practice on a limited basis Friday from a chest injury that kept him out Thursday. He is set to play Sunday.

“Will is fine,” Ryans said.

“For the protocol, each guy has their own steps and what they have to pass.” Ryans said. “It’s a lot of different steps, and each guy is different when it comes to the symptoms that they’re having and what they’re feeling. So, whatever they report that they’re feeling, we’re going to take that to heart and make sure we’re taking extra precautions with the guys when it’s a concussion. If he’s out there playing, we hope he’s playing at the highest level to help us be in position to help us be in position to win the game.”

Ryans reiterated Monday that Stroud would start, once he cleared the protocol.

Mills went 3-0 standing in for Stroud in wins over the Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans and Bills.

“I thought Davis did great,” Stroud said. “He balled out three games in a row and put us in position to win. I’m really proud of him and everything he’s done. He’s been a great teammate, great brother of mine.”

Both Stroud and Pitre returned to practice last week when their symptoms subsided. Under the rules of the NFL concussion protocol, both need consecutive practices and must be cleared by an independent neurologist. Under the NFL rules, players who have sustained a concussion must pass a baseline neurological exam.

Stroud dealt with sensitivity to light and headaches, per sources, and Pitre had headaches.

“He looked good out there,” Pro Bowl wide receiver Nico Collins said of Stroud after practice Wednesday

It was Mills on the winning side again, improving to 3-0 as he helped the Texans engineer a 23-19 upset victory over the Buffalo Bills. After beginning the game 1 for 8 for 10 yards during a frustrating first quarter filled with misfired overthrows from Mills and dropped passes, he heated up. He completed 10 of 13 throws for 112 yards and two touchdown passes to Jayden Higgins and Christian Kirk and finished the game 16 of 30 for 153 yards and a 90.0 passer rating.

Now, it’s back to Stroud after he passes the concussion protocol this week.

“Davis came in, did his thing,” Collins told KPRC 2 on Friday night. “Came in, led the way we all knew he was going to do, and my guy went 3-0, man. Love that. But I’m glad 7 is back. Get ready for Indy. Big division game, and on the road from there.”

Now, the football goes back to Stroud, who missed the last three games with a concussion. Stroud will take over as the starter again. There is no competition, or controversy.

“In my current situation I don’t think there is a competition,” Mills said. “C.J. is the starter for this team. I’m just doing everything I can to bring my best foot forward every day, make everyone else around me better and try to provide and play my role to my best ability when I get thrown in there.

“He was coming over to me and giving me pointers if he saw something throughout the game when I was coming back to the bench. Extremely supportive, definitely ready to be back. He wants to get back, you can tell he’s itching to get back out there on the field, but he was great all night.”

Mills did his job in exemplary fashion.

The former third-round draft pick from Stanford, a starter until Stroud arrived, has completed 58.9 percent of his throws for 856 yards, five touchdowns and one interception for an 84.2 passer rating. He passed for 292 yards and 274 yards against the Jaguars and Titans.

“It’s been great,” Mills said. “I don’t know if I want to reflect too much on it middle of the season. We got a long road ahead of us if we want to do what we’re capable of and what we’re planning to do. Just grateful for the opportunity.

“I come into work every day, love my teammates, love my coaches and it’s fun to get back out there on the field and do what you love. I’ve been dreaming of being in this situation since I started football when I was six years old. Every day I’m just living out that childhood dream and going out there and having fun with it.”

Now, the football goes back to Stroud.

Stroud was on a bit of a roll before sustaining the head injury, including against the Broncos.

“I thought I had a good first quarter, but it sucks that it happened,” Stroud said. “I think I’ll be able to catch my mojo back, but I don’t know when. Hopefully, it’s the first play of the game. Whatever it is, I’m going to keep fighting and try to find a rhythm.”

NOTES: Offensive tackle Trent Brown has no injury designation. He participated fully and has been dealing with a broken finger.

Defensive end Denico Autry (knee) has no injury designation along with offensive tackle Blake Fisher (illness).

Cornerback Ajani Carter (hamstring) and linebacker Jamal Hill (hamstring) didn’t practice again were officially ruled out. They could potentially return next week for a road game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com