C.J. Stroud clears concussion protocol, will start Sunday vs. Colts

The Houston Texans are making a run for the AFC playoffs, and they'll have their leader back this week as C.J. Stroud is officially good to go for a pivotal game against the division-leading Indianapolis Colts.

At the start of November, Stroud was taken out of the game against the Denver Broncos due to a head injury, which put him in concussion protocol for the rest of the month. After losing to the Broncos, the Texans have fired off a trio of wins with backup Davis Mills under center, the team's explosive defense taking charge while the offense stays above water.

While Mills was solid in his role, the return of Stroud gives the team an extra boost of confidence in a game that could turn winning the division from a fantasy to a reality with a victory. The Colts are reeling a bit following a defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs, and this week's news is that starting quarterback Daniel Jones is playing with a fractured fibula. Jones is expected to start on Sunday, but is not at 100% after video surfaced of him limping while practicing.

Stroud hasn't had his best season in Houston, still chasing the rookie stats that earned him Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. But before his injury, he was stringing together some of the best games in his recent memory, notably going 30 for 39 and throwing for over 300 yards in a decisive win over an 8-4 San Francisco 49ers squad. The next game was against the Broncos, in which he left midway through and entered concussion protocol.

After starting the season 0-3, the 6-5 Texans are on the verge of something special in Texas. A win for Stroud would not only be a stamp of approval of his return but also change the narrative of what could have been a lost year in Houston.

This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: C.J. Stroud clears concussion protocol, will start Sunday vs. Colts