Stroud getting “groove” back as he prepares to start against Titans
C.J. Stroud spent the past couple of weeks gaining a different perspective of the game, while working his way through the NFL concussion protocol.
The Texans rookie quarterback watched his team’s games against the Titans and Browns from home. Despite being unable to be on the field with his teammates, Stroud, in his natural role as a leader at quarterback, still stayed in the fold while remaining grounded.
“I didn’t try to get too up, too down. I was trying to be supportive of my teammates,” Stroud said. “I was texting them throughout the week, and I was keeping up with the game plans and stuff. It was tough to watch because, of course, I wanted to play, but at the end of the day there was nothing I could do, so I wasn’t going to try to control something I couldn’t control and just get mad. So, I just tried to stay calm.”
Stroud has been officially cleared out of the NFL’s concussion protocol after a second-consecutive day of practicing on Thursday.
“He’s looked the same way he’s always looked,” Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik said. “There’s really been no difference in that regard. He’s doing a great job just progressing through the stages he’s at. He’s on track and we’ll see where he’s at on Sunday.”
C.J. Stroud spent the past couple of weeks gaining a different perspective of the game, while working his way through the NFL concussion protocol.
The Texans rookie quarterback watched his team’s games against the Titans and Browns from home. Despite being unable to be on the field with his teammates, Stroud, in his natural role as a leader at quarterback, still stayed in the fold while remaining grounded.
“I didn’t try to get too up, too down. I was trying to be supportive of my teammates,” Stroud said. “I was texting them throughout the week, and I was keeping up with the game plans and stuff. It was tough to watch because, of course, I wanted to play, but at the end of the day there was nothing I could do, so I wasn’t going to try to control something I couldn’t control and just get mad. So, I just tried to stay calm.”
Stroud has been officially cleared out of the NFL’s concussion protocol after a second-consecutive day of practicing on Thursday.
“He’s looked the same way he’s always looked,” Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik said. “There’s really been no difference in that regard. He’s doing a great job just progressing through the stages he’s at. He’s on track and we’ll see where he’s at on Sunday.”
Stroud does plan to start for the Texans against the Titans on Sunday inside NRG Stadium in their final home regular season game of the 2023 campaign.
“I feel great,” Stroud said. “I feel really good. I feel back to myself, which was the biggest thing.”
On the concussion and his recovery process, Stroud said it wasn’t scary, but that he had to keep in mind how unique each injury is for a player. “It was just the right precautions and the right steps I had to take to see progress. It wasn’t overnight,” Stroud said. “The thing about concussions that I have learned is that it’s not a ‘one-size-fits-all,’ whatever the situation is. For me it was a little different than others. It was just unique to what I went through on the field.
“The training staff did a great job of just making sure that I was okay and wasn’t forcing it and trying to come back too fast. I appreciate them for just being honest throughout the whole process and everything. Yeah, it was tough, but we’re through it now, and I’m excited to play.”
Due to the injury, Stroud didn’t do any physical football activity from the time of the injury on December 10 until returning to practice on Wednesday.
