Texans Newsletter: Final four game stretch begins in Nashville

HOUSTON – Hello Houston Texans fans an insiders! This is KPRC 2 Sports Director Randy McIlvoy checking in with your Texans newsletter!

We have hit the final stretch of the season and time is running out as teams pursue playoff spots in the AFC and NFC. In Houston, it’s so refreshing to actually be playing meaningful football in the month of December again. Now, it’s about finishing strong and getting to the playoff dance.

Can the Texans get there? Absolutely, but it will take a sure in these next four weeks to secure a spot in the January madness.

INJURIES MOUNTING

This has been the absolute worst timing for all of the injuries to start creeping up on the Texans. I mean right in the key stretch of the season they are dealing with QB C.J. Stroud out after suffering a concussion against the Jets. He’s been in protocol all week and has not practiced so he’s going to be out on Sunday.

That leaves a decision for DeMeco Ryans and OC Bobby Slowik. Who will start Sunday against the Titans? Two choices are Davis Mills and Case Keenum.

Our insider for Click2Houston.com Aaron Wilson reports that Keenum will get the nod.

Sources: Texans expected to start backup quarterback Case Keenum at Titans with C.J. Stroud out with concussion

Mills was the only one to talk this week and Keenum was not made available. DeMeco chose not to reveal who will be the starter. Both have prepared all week in practice but they send the media out after a few minutes of workouts so nobody knows who has been taking the most reps with the number one offense.

Mills or Keenum? I don’t think you can go wrong with either in this situation and really I’d be fine with rotating both against the Titans.

I posted on X/Twitter a poll to fans. Here it is:

Meanwhile back to the injuries. You know it’s serious when the media monitors the daily Texans PR injury report. It’s basically a list they release showing who practiced and how much plus who was held out. We watched closely the past 72 hours.

It’s time to play on even without the stars. That list is pretty revealing. Stroud’s out along with Will Anderson Jr., Blake Cashman, and probably Nico Collins just to name a few. Not what this team needs as it fights for its playoff hopes. Next man up mentality will be in full effect Sunday in Nashville.

Texans can win but they will need to RUN, RUN and RUN some more. Offensive line are you hearing me? Case Keenum and Davis Mills will have a slim receiver corp to throw the ball too with Collins and potentially other receivers out.

Add in the fact that the Titans will be wearing the Houston Oilers throwback uniforms and helmets. Yes, they are still really proud to call the HOUSTON Oilers their team and take ownership of that Columbia Blue color.

Time to get past that and try to find a way to win this football game. Hopefully it’s a great day for the Defense who will need to get after rookie QB Will Levis and slow down RB Derrick Henry and oh yea’ll, remember Deandre Hopkins? He’ll be in the Oiler’s jersey as well.

Enjoy the game and tune into SPORTS SUNDAY , Sunday night around 11 p.m. on KPRC 2 for our Texans coverage from Nashville!