C.J. Stroud

Panthers Expected To Pick Up Bryce Young’s Fifth-Year Option, Wait On Extension

December 3rd, 2025 at 10:34pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

In the last 15 season, the Panthers have won more than seven games only three times. They are already at seven wins in 2025 with four games to go after their Week 14 bye, putting them on pace for their best finish since 2017.

Carolina’s success is primarily due to a defense that has improved from dead-last in 2024 to middle of the pack this year, but clutch play from third-year quarterback Bryce Young has been a major factor. He has led four fourth-quarter comebacks and five game-winning drives.

However, he is not exactly setting the world on fire statistically, averaging fewer than 200 passing yards per game and ranking 23rd in passer rating (87.9) and QBR (45.6). Young has also thrown nine interceptions already; last season, he threw nine picks in 14 games, and in 2023, he threw 10 in 16 games.

His performance this season has set up an interesting two years for the Panthers and their young quarterback. Young will be eligible for an extension this offseason, and a decision on his fifth-year option will be due on May 1.

The latter situation is simpler than the former. Young’s fifth-year option is projected by OverTheCap to be $26.5MM, though that could rise to $39.7MM if he makes the Pro Bowl this season. That feels unlikely, but a surprise playoff berth on the back of Young’s clutch performances could garner him some consideration. He does have to be selected on the original ballot to upgrade his fifth-year option, according to the NFL’s CBA; a 2022 Tyler Huntley situation (filling in for an injured original selection) would not qualify. A Pro Bowl bump would make Young’s fifth-year option a much tougher decision, but for now, the team is expected to pick it up, per ESPN’s Dan Graziano.

Picking up the fifth-year option ensures that Young is under contract at an affordable price for a starter. It would also allow the Panthers to wait on an extension. They are not expected to pursue one this offseason, as Young has not quite cemented himself as the future of the franchise. Another, more significant leap in 2026 may do so, at which point the Panthers would likely try to finalize an extension before the 2027 season.

As a result, the cost of an extension may be substantially lower this offseason as opposed to the next. That sets up a clear dichotomy for the Panthers. Do they want to bet on Young now in the hopes of continue development and a contract that looks like a steal a few years from now? Or do they want to wait and see if he is really their long-term starter.

It is worth noting that Panthers head coach Dave Canales came in the year after the team selected Young with the No. 1 overall pick. As a result, he had to give Young a chance for at least a year or two. The 24-year-old quarterback has responded with some development, but it is hard to argue that he is even a mid-tier starter.

If Young cannot reach or eclipse that level next season, Canales may want to handpick his next quarterback himself. He may already have designs to do so. As the saying goes, NFL stands for Not For Long. Coaches can have extremely short leashes, especially under owners whose teams are struggling and/or are too involved in day-to-day operations. Both could be said of Panthers owner David Tepper, so if Canales wants to be in Carolina for the long haul, he may want to choose the quarterback that will give him the best chance.

The rest of the 2023 class becomes eligible for an extension next offseason. C.J. Stroud is the only quarterback that looks like the future of his franchise, so the Texans are considered more likely to pay him than the Panthers are to pay Young, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

Texans QB C.J. Stroud, S Jalen Pitre To Return In Week 13

November 28th, 2025 at 1:59pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans announced on Friday (via Jonathan Alexander of the Houston Chronicle) that quarterback C.J. Stroud and safety Jalen Pitre cleared concussion protocol and will return from their multi-game absences in Week 13 against the Colts.

Stroud suffered a concussion in Week 9 and missed two games before returning to practice in Week 12. He only participated on Tuesday, and Houston’s short week before a Thursday night matchup with the Bills kept him sidelined for another game. Stroud was a full participant for all three of the Texans’ practice this week and will start on Sunday, likely without an injury designation.

Pitre has been in a similar situation to Stroud. His concussion also happened in Week 9, though it was not spotted during the game. He also returned to practice in a limited capacity last week, but was absent on Friday. He was upgraded to full participation on Wednesday, and now that he is no longer in concussion protocol, he may not have an injury designation for Sunday’s game, either.

Backup quarterback Davis Mills struggled in relief of Stroud in Week 9, resulting in an 18-15 loss to the Broncos. But in their three full games without Stroud or Pitre, Houston has gone 3-0. As a starter, Mills averaged 240 yards per game with five touchdowns, one interception, and a 88.25 passer rating. Those numbers are comparable to Stroud’s performance over the last two years, which is significantly below the standard he set as a rookie.

Pitre’s replacement, Myles Bryant, has also held up in the last three games. He has capably filled Pitre’s versatile role with 42 snaps in the slot, 31 as a free safety, and 82 at nickel, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). He has made 14 total tackles and missed only two, and though he has allowed catches on nine of his 12 targets, he has limited those receptions to just 45 yards. Like Mills, those are comparable numbers, if not better numbers, relative to the Texans’ usual starter. Pitre has 45 tackles this season, an average of 5.6 per game, with a 16.7% missed tackle rate. He has also allowed 7.7 yards per target. Bryant has averaged 4.6 tackles in the last three weeks with a 12.5% missed tackle rate to go along with only 3.75 yards per target.

Pitre will return to his starting role in Week 13, but Bryant may have earned himself a role in some dime packages. Mills, however, will be on the bench for the rest of the season with the Texans hoping Stroud can bounce-back from a quiet first half and make a late-season playoff push. Houston is currently 6-5 – meaning that Mills and Bryant helped keep their postseason hopes alive – but they trail the Colts and the Jaguars in the AFC South. Their best path to the playoffs is likely a wild card berth, but that may be difficult with the Bills, Ravens, Steelers, Chargers, and Chiefs also angling for those three spots.

Stroud’s return will come against a Colts defense that has allowed 245.5 passing yards per game this season, the fifth-most in the league. However, their 7.2 yards per attempt allowed and 33 sacks rank 10th and sixth, respectively. In the last two weeks, Indianapolis has only given up 377 passing yards, which coincides with the addition of Sauce Gardner and the return of Charvarius Ward from injured reserve. It’s also worth noting that the Colts have faced the second-most passing attempts in the NFL as a result of consistently leading games. Therefore, there is some reason to believe that the Colts’ pass defense has not struggled as much as it seems and may not be as porous for the rest of the year.

C.J. Stroud Returns To Practice; Texans QB Ruled Out For Week 12

November 18th, 2025 at 2:23pm CST by Adam La Rose

2:23pm: The Texans have officially ruled out Stroud and Pitre for Week 12, according to Wilson.

1:15pm: Davis Mills has started each of the Texans’ past two games. He is in line to handle QB1 duties for a third straight week, but C.J. Stroud is making progress in his recovery from a concussion.

Stroud has returned to practice on Tuesday, something ESPN’s DJ Bien-Aime first reported was expected to take place. That is an encouraging step on Stroud’s path to returning to the lineup, although he is not expected to play in Week 12. The former No. 2 pick remains in concussion protocol, and the Texans are on a short week as they prepare to play the Bills on Thursday.

Stroud was concussed midway through Houston’s Week 9 loss to Denver. The team has managed to win each of its two contests since then with Mills at the helm. The Texans are 5-5 as a result, meaning a playoff berth is certainly attainable. Of course, having Stroud back to full health relatively soon will be key in determining their chances of making the postseason.

In an encouraging update, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports Stroud’s symptoms of headaches and sensitivity to light have subsided. That suggests the 24-year-old will be able to clear the remaining stages of the protocol relatively soon. If that proves to be the case, a return in time for a Week 13 matchup with the Colts could very well be in store.

Stroud played in all of Houston’s 19 combined regular and postseason contests last year, and he missed only two games as a rookie (although that absence was also caused by a concussion). The Ohio State product has not managed to replicate the production seen during his sensational debut campaign, but he profiles as Houston’s franchise passer for the foreseeable future. This coming offseason will be the first in which Stroud will be eligible for an extension.

Mills has thrown for 292 and 274 yards during his two starts so far, posting three touchdowns and one interception along the way. On Thursday, he will take on a Bills defense which has struggled mightily against the run in 2025 but ranks second in the NFL in terms of passing yards allowed per game. It will be interesting to see how Mills fares in what will be his final start provided Stroud continues to progress through his recovery.

Jalen Pitre returned to practice yesterday, and Wilson notes he is taking part in Tuesday’s work as well. Pitre, like Stroud, remains in concussion protocol at this time. Both players are working their way back, though, and a return by Week 13 would come as no surprise.

Texans Rule Out C.J. Stroud For Week 11; Davis Mills To Start

November 13th, 2025 at 9:56pm CST by Connor Byrne

After suffering a concussion in Week 9, Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud will miss his second straight game this Sunday. The Texans ruled him out on Thursday (via Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2). Head coach DeMeco Ryans announced that backup signal-caller Davis Mills will start against the Titans in Week 11.

Stroud sustained his injury on a hit from Broncos cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine in an 18-15 loss on Nov. 2. A week and a half later, he’s still in concussion protocol and continuing to experience symptoms. Stroud hasn’t returned to practice as a result.

It’s unclear how much more time Stroud will miss, though it’s worth noting that the Texans will be on a short week after facing the Titans. They’ll host the Bills next Thursday. The quick turnaround will give Stroud less time to return to full strength ahead of an important matchup between AFC playoff contenders.

Winners of back-to-back AFC South titles in Stroud’s first two seasons, the 4-5 Texans are sitting on the outside of the playoff picture in his third year. They’re lagging well behind the surprising Colts, who are atop the division at 8-2. However, the Mills-led Texans pulled out a critical win against the division rival Jaguars last week to keep hope alive.

After going 17 of 30 for a paltry 137 yards off the bench in the Denver game, Mills completed 27 of 45 passes for 292 yards, three touchdowns (one rushing), and an interception in a 36-29 victory in Week 10. Mills led a dramatic 19-point comeback in the fourth quarter and scored the game-winning TD on a 14-yard run with 31 seconds left.

Mills is now in line to make his 28th start since the Texans selected him in the third round (67th overall) of the 2021 draft. The Stanford product took over as the Texans’ starter for most of his rookie year, the season Deshaun Watson sat out as a healthy scratch. Mills retained the job in 2022 after Houston traded Watson to Cleveland, but the Texans’ 3-13-1 finish enabled them to pick Stroud second overall in the ensuing draft.

With a healthy Stroud at the helm of their offense, Mills didn’t make a single start from 2023-24. Still, the Texans believed enough in Mills to hand him an extension with a fully guaranteed $7MM in September. Two months later, they’re relying on Mills’ help to stay in the race.

The Texans are likely confident in their chances on Sunday against the 1-8 Titans, especially after throttling them 26-0 in Week 4. Far tougher tests are looming, however, with Buffalo, Indianapolis, and Kansas City next on the schedule. Ideally for the Texans, they’ll climb to .500 for the first time this week and then get Stroud back for what could be a season-defining three-game stretch.

Texans Rule Out C.J. Stroud For Week 10

November 5th, 2025 at 2:26pm CST by Sam Robinson

Suffering a concussion during the Texans’ Week 9 loss to the Broncos, C.J. Stroud will not make an immediate return. DeMeco Ryans confirmed (via KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson) his quarterback will miss Week 10.

Ryans ruling Stroud out at the start of his team’s practice week is certainly notable, as concussion protocol steps are in place to make a potential return possible. But the NFL has beefed up its standards for returning from head injuries. The Jaguars will face Davis Mills on Sunday.

A Kris Abrams-Draine hit on Stroud, initially ruled a penalty before the flag was picked up, led to the third-year quarterback’s concussion. The Texans dropped an 18-15 result, with neither quarterback able to punch in a touchdown against Denver’s formidable defense. Mills struggled particularly on third downs, with the Texans just 3-for-17 in that area. They missed on 14 of their final 15 third-down tries, as Mills had not been called upon to make a start for a while in Houston.

The Texans turned to then-backup Case Keenum during a two-game Stroud injury absence — due to a concussion — but saw the veteran passer sidelined throughout the 2024 season because of injury. Stroud, though, started all 17 games last season and took the field in both Houston postseason contests. Keenum joined the Bears in free agency this offseason, leaving Mills as the solo Texans backup. The team extended the former third-round pick in September.

During the Deshaun Watson healthy-scratch season, Mills was the Texans’ primary starter. That remained the case after the team dealt Watson to Cleveland for a historic bounty in 2022. Mills has made 26 career starts, going 5-19-1 (albeit with lower-end rosters in those years). He will receive at least one more this season, thanks to Stroud’s second documented concussion as a pro.

Mills was 17 of 30 for 156 yards against the Broncos, averaging just 4.6 per pass. Extension-eligible in January 2026, Stroud has seen his stock dip — as O-line and wide receiver issues have cropped up during the past two seasons — since his Offensive Rookie of the Year season. But Mills’ insufficient Week 9 relief effort certainly hindered Houston’s effort in a winnable game. At 3-5, the Texans suddenly need their former starter to come up with a win over the Jags. Stroud will move through the protocol this week, but his next chance to play will come against the Titans in Week 11. Houston then has a short-week matchup against Buffalo.

Texans QB C.J. Stroud Suffers Concussion

November 2nd, 2025 at 2:27pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Texans will need to play at least the remainder of Week 9 without their starting quarterback. C.J. Stroud has been ruled out of today’s game due to a concussion.

After being tackled by Broncos cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine, Stroud’s head hit the turf. He remained down on the field for several minutes before walking off the field under his own power. Stroud spent time in the medical tent before being taken to the locker room for further evaluation.

The 24-year-old has since been ruled out for the remainder of the contest. As a result, backup QB Davis Mills will be tasked with leading the offense the rest of the way. At the time the Texans announced the update on Stroud, they were leading Denver 12-7.

The team’s elite defense will be leaned on to maintain its current advantage. Houston entered Sunday ranked first in the NFL in both points and yards allowed, and another strong showing would help those statistics and give the Texans an opportunity to improve to 4-4 on the year. Even if that takes place, of course, Stroud’s recovery timeline will be a major storyline moving forward.

The third-year passer has only missed two games in his career. During his rookie campaign, though, Stroud suffered a concussion. This latest injury could lead to an absence spanning at least Week 10, since players very rarely clear concussion protocol in time to suit up one week after suffering one. Mills may be counted on beyond the remainder of today’s game as a result.

Stroud has not managed to duplicate the success of his Offensive Rookie of the Year-winning campaign in 2022. He nevertheless helped lead Houston to the divisional round of the postseason again last year. In spite of the Texans’ early struggles during the current campaign, a playoff berth could certainly still be in store. Much of the team’s outlook moving forward will depend on Stroud’s health, however. His situation will thus be worth watching closely over the coming days.

Texans’ C.J. Stroud To Return In Week 17

December 28th, 2023 at 3:19pm CST by Adam La Rose

3:19pm: Stroud will be back under center after two missed games. Following his return to practice, Stroud has cleared concussion protocol. The Texans removed the rookie standout from their injury report, putting him on track to return to action in Week 17.

11:12am: Continuing to make progress in his recovery from a concussion, C.J. Stroud has taken another important step forward. The Texans quarterback has resumed practicing, an encouraging sign for his Week 17 availability.

As detailed by Aaron Wilson of KPRC2, Stroud is now in the fourth of five stages in the league’s concussion protocol. As a result, he remains on track to receive clearance in time for Houston’s New Year’s Eve game against the Titans. That is the expected return date for the Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate, and such a development would do wonders for the Texans’ playoff push.

Stroud has missed the past two games, and Houston surprisingly turned to Case Keenum in his place. The latter helped lead the team to an overtime victory in his 2023 debut, but he struggled last week against the Browns. Keenum was benched mid-game in favor of Davis Mills, who has spent much of the year as Stroud’s backup. Having their starter back in the lineup would give a critical boost to the Texans’ offense, a unit which has generally impressed in 2023.

The No. 2 pick has posted 3,631 passing yards while posting a 20:5 touchdown-to-interception ratio in his rookie year. Stroud has added 143 yards and another three scores on the ground, part of his overall ability to guide a transitioning Texans team toward an unexpected playoff berth. Sitting at 8-7, Houston still has a chance to win the AFC South or secure a wild-card spot.

Having a healthy Stroud in place would be a signficant development considering the number of backup quarterbacks in place throughout the AFC playoff picture. The Ohio State product still has work to do to clear the final stage of the protocol, so his continued improvement over the coming days will be a story to follow closely. As was the case over the weekend, though, signs point to a crucial late-season return.

Texans’ C.J. Stroud Ruled Out; QB In Play To Return In Week 17

December 24th, 2023 at 9:09am CST by Sam Robinson

DECEMBER 24: Although the Texans will officially be without their starting quarterback for a second straight week, he has a decent chance to come back on New Year’s Eve. Stroud’s symptoms are subsiding, per Wilson, who adds he has a decent chance of resuming some football activities this week. The Ohio State product has indeed shown progress while in concussion protocol, and ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter indicates there is optimism about a return for the team’s Week 17 game against the Titans.

DECEMBER 20: The Texans made an unexpected switch for Week 15, moving to Case Keenum rather than Davis Mills. That depth chart adjustment is likely to be relevant once again for the surprise playoff contender.

C.J. Stroud is not expected to return in Week 16, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. The Offensive Rookie of the Year favorite is still experiencing symptoms from the concussion he suffered against the Jets, with Wilson adding sensitivity to light remains an issue for the No. 2 overall pick.

Stroud will not be cleared for practice Wednesday. The Texans added recent Jets starter Tim Boyle to their practice squad Tuesday. Boyle, who started two games for the Jets before being waived a day after the latter start, now sits behind Keenum and Mills among healthy Houston quarterbacks.

While Stroud’s season is likely to continue, it is obviously a concern he is on track to remain in concussion protocol for a second game. That said, Stroud’s health is obviously paramount here. The Texans toiled in anonymity during the two-year period between Deshaun Watson‘s QB1 run and Stroud’s arrival. They are in this surprising 8-6 spot largely because of the pick they made in April. The Texans have a 51.5% chance to make the playoffs, per ESPN’s FPI. They face the Browns, who carried Keenum as their backup from 2020-21, on Sunday.

Keenum, 35, piloted Houston to an overtime win over Tennessee. The journeyman QB agreed to return to Houston in March, and the Texans rebuffed trade inquiries on he and Mills this year. The team viewed Keenum as a quality Stroud mentor, though Mills was believed to be in place as the backup prior to Week 15. Attached to a two-year, $6.25MM deal, the former Texans UDFA now has 65 career starts under his belt.

Texans Sign QB Tim Boyle To Practice Squad

December 19th, 2023 at 5:51pm CST by Ben Levine

With C.J. Stroud still sitting in concussion protocol, the Texans are adding some depth to the quarterback room. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston, the Texans are signing quarterback Tim Boyle to the practice squad.

Stroud suffered his concussion during Houston’s Week 14 loss to the Jets. Per Wilson, the second-overall pick still has concussion symptoms, putting his status for this weekend’s game against Cleveland in doubt. If the rookie can’t play, veteran Case Keenum is expected to get another start against his former team. Keenum started for Houston this past weekend and helped guide the team to an overtime win over the Titans.

Considering Stroud’s uncertainty, the Texans have been in the market for some QB help. According to ESPN’s Field Yates, the Texans tried to claim Nathan Rourke after he was waived by the Jaguars. The Patriots won the waiver claim battle, forcing the Texans to look elsewhere.

Boyle joins the Texans after having spent the first part of his 2023 campaign with the Jets. Initially brought in as a familiar backup to Aaron Rodgers, Boyle ended up getting inserted into the lineup in the middle of the season. The Jets went winless in his two starts, and in three games, the QB tossed one touchdown vs. four interceptions. After starting his career in Green Bay, Boyle went winless in three starts with the Lions in 2021. He got into one game for Chicago in 2022, tossing a pair of interceptions in eight pass attempts.

It’s unlikely Boyle sees any playing time in Houston, assuming Stroud sees the field again before the season is done. Even with the rookie out of the lineup, the veteran would be the QB3 behind Keenum and former starter Davis Mills.

Texans QB C.J. Stroud In Concussion Protocol, Out For Week 15

December 15th, 2023 at 12:50pm CST by Adam La Rose

DECEMBER 15: To little surprise, Stroud will indeed be forced to miss a game for the first time in his young career. Wilson reports Stroud has been ruled out for Sunday’s contest, meaning Mills will be in line for the start with Keenum in place as his backup. Shorthanded at a number of positions, the Texans will depend on Mills in a crucial late-season game as he briefly reclaims his former starting gig.

DECEMBER 11: The Texans suffered a lopsided loss on Sunday, and their offense endured a number of notable injuries in the process. Chief among them was quarterback C.J. Stroud being forced to exit the contest.

Stroud hit his head against the turf after taking a hit in the fourth quarter which forced him to leave the game. The first-round rookie has since been placed in the league’s concussion protocol, as detailed by Aaron Wilson of KPRC2. As a result, his availability for Week 15 is now in question. Players often miss at least one game in the time required to clear the protocol.

Any time without Stroud available would be mark a massive blow to Houston’s playoff push. The No. 2 pick in this year’s draft has been a focal point for the Texans’ turnaround this season, proving the team’s investment in him to be worthwhile. Stroud entered Week 14 leading the NFL in passing yards (3,504) while throwing 20 touchdowns and just five interceptions. Multiple fourth-quarter comebacks he orchestrated had the Texans sitting at 7-5 going into Sunday’s action.

They also had Stroud in the lead for Offensive Rookie of the Year consideration. After a season-worst outing which preceded the injury, though, attention will now turn to the Ohio State alum’s ability to recover from the first signficant ailment of his young career. The Texans’ loss leaves them as one of six teams in the AFC’s wild-card picture with a 7-6 record, though they remain just one game behind the Jaguars for the lead in the division. Houston’s next game is against the Titans.

Davis Mills finished the game after replacing Stroud. The former’s performances as a starter over the past two seasons informed Houston’s decision to draft a replacement, but he still represents a relatively experienced spot-starter option. Mills, 25, has 31 appearances and 26 starts to his name with Houston, so he will be a familiar face in an offense which is already dealing with injury problems along the offensive line and at the WR position. Wideout Tank Dell is out for the season, and leading receiver Nico Collins suffered a calf injury which knocked him out of yesterday’s game.

Mills – who completed one of five pass attempts on Sunday – would be in line for his first start since 2022 if Stroud is unable to clear the concussion protocol in time. Veteran Case Keenum is also an option after the Texans made it clear they were not interested in moving him despite the arrival of Stroud. Keenum has yet to see a snap this season and his last game was in 2022 with the Bills. His most recent start was the year prior during his time with the Browns.

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