The Buffalo Bills will face quarterback Davis Mills instead of C.J. Stroud when they play the Houston Texans on Thursday Night Football.
Stroud, Houston’s starting quarterback, has been dealing with symptoms
of a concussion for the past two and a half weeks. While he’s still in the NFL’s concussion protocol, the third-year signal caller did progress to being a limited participant in Tuesday’s practice. Protocol says that if he completed the practice and had no symptoms after, he can be a full participant the following day. In order to be eligible to play, he must complete a practice with contact and, again, experience no symptoms.
How Stroud felt after Tuesday’s practice is now irrelevant as head coach DeMeco Ryans announced that Stroud would not suit up on Thursday night. With just a maximum of only one day of full practice (and that’s assuming no set backs) in the past two weeks, Ryans said it wasn’t enough time for Stroud to get ready to play.
Without Stroud, Houston has won their last two games with Mills. However, if the Bills’ pass rush puts the pressure on Mills, things could go south for the Texans in a hurry.
In addition to Stroud, defensive back Jalen Pitre, remains in the league’s concussion protocol. Ryans also ruled out any possibility of the fourth-year safety, who has 25 tackles and three interceptions this year, playing on Thursday.
Pitre, like Stroud, suffered a concussion in Week 9 and has been sidelined since. Unlike Stroud, however, Pitre had his first practice on Monday. Yet, after a day of limited action, he did not progress to a full participant on Tuesday and, instead, had a second day of limited practice.
It’s been Myles Bryant playing in place of Pitre the past two weeks, recording nine solo tackles and another six assists in that stretch.
