Surging Houston Texans get C.J. Stroud back amid playoff push - ESPN

HOUSTON — C.J. Stroud will make his return for the Houston Texans with his team in the heat of the playoff race entering Week 13.

The third-year quarterback missed the past three games after suffering a concussion in Week 9, but Houston (6-5) has clawed its way back and is rolling in comparison to the bleak night of Sept. 21, when it was coming off a 17-10 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars and sat 0-3.

Stroud characterized what the Texans were able to do in his absence as «amazing.»

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

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History suggests making the playoffs would take a truly historic feat to defy the odds — with the 2018 Texans being the last team in the NFL to do so.

Houston is hoping that history will repeat itself.

Since Week 3, the Texans have the fifth-most wins (six), sit 10th in points per game (25.6), are allowing the third fewest points per game (16.4), lead in defensive EPA (60.47) and allow the fewest yards per game (245).

Now, Houston is two games behind the Indianapolis Colts (8-3) and one behind the Jaguars (7-4), with the Colts up next on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, CBS).

A win against the Colts would make the AFC South race that much more intriguing considering that the Texans and Colts play again in Week 18.

«The Colts, you can see they've been a very explosive offense,» Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. «That's what's powered them this year. I think [quarterback] Daniel Jones is