Hey guys it’s Ari Alexander with your Texans newsletter before a must-win matchup with the Titans. All Houston has to do to the make the playoffs is win both of their remaining games vs. the Titans and Colts.
C.J. IS BACK!
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The best news of the week came Thursday when C.J. Stroud cleared concussion protocol and practiced in full. The leader in the clubhouse for the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award unlocks much of the offense, which will have Nico Collins and Noah Brown leading the way at receiver, and tight end Dalton Schultz healthy. With Stroud back, the Texans are favored by 4 points over Will Levis and the Titans.
THE AFC SOUTH’S QB PROBLEM
Speaking of Levis, he’s back to starting this week after missing a game with an ankle injury. But if you look around the rest of the division, it’s all rookies and backups. Obviously Stroud has been awesome - but rookie. Levis - rookie, Gardner Minshew - backup, and this week for the first time since he was drafted, Trevor Lawrence will miss a game. Lawrence is down with a shoulder injury, and backup C.J. Beathard will start. The Jags are lucky they get the NFL-worst Panthers, but there is a huge difference in the ceiling of their offense with the former first overall pick vs. Beathard, a career backup.
THE TEXANS D-LINE PROBLEM
Houston’s starting defensive line normally looks like this: Will Anderson, Jonathan Greenard at end, Maliek Collins and Sheldon Rankins at tackle. All 4 are on the injury report, with three of them questionable and Jonathan Greenard out.
The Texans were able to hold down the Titans two weeks ago using their strong pass rush and interior defense, shutting down the run game and pressuring the rookie QB Levis.
Without half, or most, or all of their starting defensive line, that becomes a significantly different game.
WHAT’S LEFT
Two games. Win both, you’re in. Lose one, it becomes very tough. Happy Sunday!
