The Houston Texans lost five players to injuries in Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos.
Most importantly, C.J. Stroud suffered a concussion after taking a hit at the end of a slide early in the first quarter.
Four other Texans players left Sunday’s game with injuries: offensive tackle Tytus Howard (concussion), linebacker Christian Harris (shin), guard Ed Ingram (knee), and defensive end Darrell Taylor (ankle). All were eventually ruled out. Shorthanded, the Texans ultimately fell to the Broncos, 18-15.
DeMeco Ryans Refuses to Make Excuses for the Loss
Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans didn’t want to make any excuses for the loss while holding media availability postgame.
“It’s easy to stand up here and make excuses but at the end of the day I truly believe (injuries) happen all across the league all the time,” Ryans said. “You don’t make excuses about who’s in the game who’s not in the game. We still had an opportunity there to close the game out and win it. It’s just a matter of are you remaining discipline in the moment? Everybody has to pull their weight.”
C.J. Stroud’s Head Hit the Turf Hard in 1st Quarter
Stroud absorbed a hard hit at the end of a 6-yard scramble when the back of his head struck the turf after contact from Broncos defensive back Kris Abrams-Draine as he began his slide. No flag was thrown on the play.
Ryans said Abrams-Draine should have been penalized for unnecessary roughness.
GettyHOUSTON, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 02: C.J. Stroud #7 of the Houston Texans is hit by Kris Abrams-Draine #31 of the Denver Broncos while sliding during the second quarter of the game at NRG Stadium on November 02, 2025 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
“He hit the quarterback when he’s sliding and giving himself up,” Ryans said. “If I’m incorrect on the rule, I’ve seen that happen multiple times with our guys, and we get the penalty. But for some reason, it just didn’t happen there.”
The Texans quarterback received on-field attention from the team’s medical staff while teammates looked on. He was then escorted to the blue medical tent before heading to the locker room.
Initially listed as questionable to return after his early second-quarter exit, Stroud was ruled out for the start of the second half.
“At the end of the day, we lost our starting quarterback because of the play,” Ryans said. “Anytime you lose your starting quarterback, it’s tough.”
Davis Mills Struggled at Quarterback
Ka’imi Fairbairn matched his career high with five field goals, but the Texans’ offense stalled with Davis Mills under center following Stroud’s injury. After a field goal pushed the lead to 15-7 on their first drive of the second half, Houston punted on six straight possessions.
“I thought Davis battled, tried to do a good job there, he battled,” Ryans said, “but it just didn’t do well offensively once we lost C.J.”
Bo Nix threw two touchdown passes, and Wil Lutz nailed a 34-yard field goal as time expired, lifting the Broncos to a comeback win on Sunday — their sixth straight victory.
“Disappointed as a team that we didn’t finish the game,” Ryans said. “The defense, they did a good job of getting stops multiple times. We just sputtered there offensively, we lacked just being able to move the ball. We lacked just being able sustain drives there in the second half. It just wasn’t good enough.”
Mills completed 17 of 30 passes for 137 yards as the Texans dropped to 3-5. Houston went 0-for-3 in the red zone and managed to convert only 3 of 17 third-down attempts. Rookie sixth-round pick Graham Mertz serves as the Texans’ third-string quarterback.
The Texans (3-5) host the Jacksonville Jaguars (5-3) next week Sunday.
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