C.J. Stroud Out for Texans-Bills Game with Concussion

Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud has been ruled out for the team's Week 12 matchup against the Buffalo Bills on Thursday night, marking his third consecutive absence due to a concussion sustained earlier this month. The 24-year-old starter returned to limited practice on Tuesday but will not clear the NFL's concussion protocol in time for the short-week game at NRG Stadium, according to head coach DeMeco Ryans.

Stroud suffered the injury during the Texans' 18-15 loss to the Denver Broncos in Week 9 on November 2. He scrambled for six yards and was hit on the shoulder by Broncos cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine as he slid near the end of the play, causing the back of his head to bounce off the ground. The incident occurred early in the second quarter, sidelining him for the remainder of that game and the subsequent contests against the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans. Ryans emphasized a cautious approach, noting the limited recovery time before Thursday's 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff.

"Both guys are progressing, they're doing better," Ryans said of Stroud and safety Jalen Pitre, who is also out with a concussion from the same Broncos game. "But right now we've got a short...