Sunday was a bad day across the board for the Texans.
They didn’t score any points in the first half and then gave up 30 points to an anemic Jets offense in the second half of a 30-6 road loss. That hurts their playoff chances in the AFC and they could disappear completely if rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud is out for an extended period of time.
Stroud’s head slammed into the ground after a hit by Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and he did not return to the game after being evaluated for a concussion. After the game, Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans confirmed that Stroud is in the concussion protocol.
“We’ll see how he progresses throughout the week,” Ryans said, via Adam Wexler of SportsRadio790.
The Texans also saw edge rusher Will Anderson, wide receiver Nico Collins, linebacker Blake Cashman, and cornerback Tavierre Thomas leave with injuries during the loss, so there will be a lot for them to monitor as they head into their Week 15 date with the Titans.
Jets quarterback Zach Wilson’s return to the starting lineup couldn’t have gone much better.
Wilson completed 27-of-36 passes for 301 yards and two touchdowns after spending the last two games on the bench in favor of Tim Boyle and Trevor Siemian. Wilson’s big day lead the way to a 30-6 Jets home win over the Texans.
The loss is a blow to Houston’s playoff hopes and the loss was only part of the reason why this was a terrible day for the Texans. Quarterback C.J. Stroud was having a miserable day against the Jets defense and then left the game with a concussion in the fourth quarter. Edge rusher Will Anderson, wide receiver Nico Collins, and linebacker Blake Cashman also left with injuries as the Texans fell out of playoff position in the AFC.
Stroud’s status will be the most closely watched heading into next Sunday’s trip to Tennessee.
Wilson’s first touchdown pass went to Randall Cobb in the third quarter to break a scoreless tie and set things rolling for a surprisingly frisky Jets offense. They had 27 points in their previous three games, so a 30-point half was not something that anyone was expecting to see from them on Sunday.
It’s almost certainly too little, too late for their playoff hopes but it’s a positive ending to a week that included questions for head coach Robert Saleh about whether Wilson was resistant to returning to action after his benching. Saleh and Wilson were emphatic in their denials of such a notion and Wilson’s third-highest passing yardage in a game is a pretty good sign that he’s comfortable running the offense.
He’ll get another chance to do so in Miami as the Jets try to continue playing spoilers next week.
The Texans are on their way to a loss at the Meadowlands and they’ll be hoping quarterback C.J. Stroud will be able to return before their next game.
Stroud left the game in the fourth quarter after slamming his head on the turf while being hit by Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams. Davis Mills replaced Stroud and will likely be in the rest of the way with the Texans down 24-6 with just over six minutes left to play.
Stroud was examined in the sideline medical tent and then went to the locker room.
It had been a miserable day for Stroud before the injury. He is 10-of-23 for 91 yards and took three sacks while being outdueled by fellow second overall pick Zach Wilson throughout a rainy afternoon in New Jersey.
The Texans’ other first-round pick is also dealing with an injury. Edge rusher Will Anderson is called questionable to return with an ankle injury.
UPDATE 3:51 p.m. ET: Stroud has been ruled out with a concussion.
The Texans are finally on the scoreboard.
Running back Devin Singletary scored from a yard out on the final play of the third quarter to give Houston its first points of their game against the Jets. Kicker Matt Ammendola missed the extra point, however, and the Jets still lead 14-6.
Singletary’s run came one play after Jets safety Tony Adams was flagged for pass interference in the end zone and five plays after the first turnover of the game. Jets quarterback Zach Wilson didn’t slide at the end of a run for a first down and lost the ball when he got hit by Texans linebacker Christian Harris.
C.J. Stroud hooked up with tight ends Andrew Beck and Brevin Jordan for gains of more than 20 yards ahead of the Adams penalty and the Texans will need more plays like that to pull out a win in the fourth quarter.
The NFL will not have its first 0-0 tie since 1943 this Sunday.
Neither the Jets nor the Texans were able to get on the scoreboard in the first half of Sunday’s game in New Jersey, but the Jets were able to break the scoring drought to open the second half. Quarterback Zach Wilson hit wide receiver Randall Cobb for a 15-yard touchdown that put the Jets up 7-0 with nearly four minutes off the clock in the third quarter.
It’s Cobb’s first touchdown of the season and the Jets’ first offensive touchdown since the fourth quarter of their Week 12 loss to the Dolphins.
Wilson is 14-of-21 for 169 yards in his return to the starting lineup.
The Texans had linebacker Blake Cashman and wide receiver Nico Collins leave with injuries in the first half. Both players have been ruled out.