Browns Likely To Be Without Key Player For Matchup Against Texans
Heading into Week 16 there are eight different scenarios in which the Browns can clinch a playoff berth, and while they’re all pretty convoluted, they each start with a win for Cleveland.
The path to victory this weekend may have become easier for the Browns given some news from Tuesday night. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Texans QB, C.J. Stroud is likely to miss a second consecutive week due to a concussion. The rookie sat this past weekend’s game against the Titans after being unable to clear the league’s concussion protocol.
Houston wound up winning the game without him in overtime as former Browns QB Case Keenum led the charge, throwing for 229 yards a touchdown and an interception.
Stroud sustained the head injury two weeks back in a blowout loss to the Jets. The Ohio State product has taken the league by storm in his first season in the pros. Through his first 13 games, Stroud had thrown for 3,631 yards, 20 touchdowns and only five interceptions.
On top of being one of the best stories of the season, he’s also one of the main catalysts in what’s been an unexpected early arrival for a rebuilding Texans team. Currently, Houston is 8-6 and tied with Jacksonville and Indianapolis record wise in a tight AFC South race.
Houston would be on the outside looking in though, if the playoffs started today, making this matchup with the Browns an important one for them as well, as they look to keep pace with their division rivals.
While the initial reporting indicates that Stroud won’t play, expect the Texans to monitor the situation throughout the week of practice to determine if he’ll actually clear the protocol in time for Sunday before officially ruling him out.
If he indeed can’t play against the Browns, Keenum would get the start in his place.
