Overview
- Head coach DeMeco Ryans ruled Stroud out for Sunday at Tennessee after the quarterback missed practice for a second straight week.
- ESPN’s Adam Schefter and team sources say it is unclear whether Stroud can clear concussion protocol in time for Thursday Night Football against the Bills.
- Davis Mills will start in Nashville, and Houston is prepared to lean on conservative play-calling if Stroud remains unavailable.
- Stroud exited the Nov. 2 game in Denver with a concussion, and Ryans has emphasized prioritizing long-term health, including openness to added QB protection such as guardian caps.
- Local reporting says Stroud is improving, while a Houston Chronicle column outlined potential early-week practice workarounds that face a tight timeline before Thursday.