Will C.J. Stroud's return fuel Texans to upset Colts, take AFC South lead?

Will C.J. Stroud's return fuel Texans to upset Colts, take AFC South lead? originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Houston Texans quarterback CJ Stroud will be back in the saddle for his team's Week 13 battle with division leaders, the Indianapolis Colts, on Sunday. The Texans will look to ride off with a victory and gain ground in the AFC South as they attempt to salvage their season by making the playoffs.

Stroud, who had been out for the Texans' previous three games with a concussion, which he sustained in Week 9. Luckily, backup Davis Mills guided Houston to a 3-0 record while filling in, which sets this up to be a consequential match-up in Indy. Stroud said that lifted the squad at a point when their season could have been lost.

MORE: T.J. Watt vs. J.J. Watt sacks: Steelers star passes brother's mark while older sibling calls play on broadcast

"You see guys step up and start to take more on the plate and rise to the occasion," Stroud said this week, according to ESPN. "Of course, we didn't start off the best. But we know what type of team we have. We're very talented."

Stroud is Texans' biggest factor down the stretch

Stroud, the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2023, after having been previously selected with the second overall pick in the draft. The Ohio State product then guided the Texans to a 10-7 record last season, despite a slight dip in his numbers in year two.

2025 has been a bit of a different story, however, as Stroud has battled injuries and inconsistency. He's gone 3-5 as a starter and is only averaging 212.8 yards passing per game.

At the same time, he's the best option to bring Houston's postseason hopes back to life. In his first two seasons in the Lone Star State, Stroud and the Texans (currently 6-5) have qualified for the playoffs in both.

Stroud is 2-2 lifetime in the postseason, and while the team looks to be nowhere near a contender for the Super Bowl, they're still in the mix to topple both the Colts and Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC South. The Jags (7-40 will face the 1-10 Tennessee Titans in Week 13.