Houston’s C.J. Stroud is out with a concussion after hitting his head hard on the ground at the end of a run in the second quarter Sunday against Denver.

Like the rest of his team Stroud struggled to start the year but has turned it around. The 24-year-old signal-caller has thrown for 1,623 yards so far with 11 touchdowns to only five interceptions. The Texans’ offense remains very much a work in progress, yet Stroud’s play of late has helped the unit make serious progress.

The biggest question on everyone's mind following the Houston Texans' 18-15 loss to the Denver Broncos is the status of quarterback C.J. Stroud.

Stroud was diagnosed with a concussion after a slide when a hit by Broncos cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine slammed the quarterback’s head into the ground. Officials threw a flag for unnecessary roughness. Replay reversed the on-field decision, deciding that the slide was late and that Abrams-Draine didn’t make contact with Stroud’s head.

Houston Texans quarterback CJ Stroud was knocked unconscious after taking a brutal hit to his head by a Broncos defender.

The Sunday afternoon slate for Week 9 is headlined by two big AFC matchups with playoff implications. In the early afternoon window, it's two first-place teams facing off when the Indianapolis Colts (7-1) head to Pittsburgh (4-3) for a showdown with the Steelers.

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud rips pass to tight end Dalton Schultz for a 47-yard catch and run into the red zone.