There is plenty for C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans to pore over in their game-planning to face the New England Patriots in the AFC Divisional Playoffs, but the third-year quarterback’s front line is not one of them.
Stroud and the Texans got out to an ominous start to the week.
On the final day of the week of practice, the Texans’ fortunes changed in a major way, and that bodes well for Stroud most of all.
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GettyTrent Brown #77 of the Las Vegas Raiders wears a face mask featuring a raised fist design during warmups before facing the Los Angeles Chargers.
“#Texans right tackle Trent Brown returns to practice after missing Wednesday and Thursday,” KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson reported on X on January 16. “Never any real concern on his status he’ll play Sunday.”
Brown, who spent two stints with the Patriots–including winning a Super Bowl in 2018–has only missed one game since taking over as the Texans’ starting RT in Week 10.
That was in the regular-season finale.
The Texans have been forced to shuffle their offensive line multiple times this season due to injuries. However, Stroud still managed to post the lowest sack rate of his career during the 2025 regular season.
Brown, 32, was a seventh-round pick by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2015 draft. He has also played for the Cincinnati Bengals and Las Vegas Raiders during his career.
His potential absence loomed large for Stroud and the Texans.
The Patriots boasted the NFL’s fourth-best scoring defense and the eighth-ranked group during the regular season, despite tying for the fifth-fewest sacks and the ninth-lowest pressure rate, per Pro Football Reference.
The Texans also got defensive lineman Denico Autry back on the practice field on Friday, but the news was not all positive.
Texans Still Missing Pro Bowl WR Nico Collins
GettyNico Collins #12 of the Houston Texans warms up before facing the Arizona Cardinals.
Stroud and the Texans will be short-handed, ruling out Pro Bowl wide receiver Nico Collins (and fellow wideout Justin Watson), who missed the week of practice while in concussion protocol.
The outcome is not entirely surprising.
“#Texans Pro Bowl wide receiver Nico Collins not practicing,” KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson reported on X on January 16. “Still in #NFL concussion protocol and not back for Sunday playoff game vs. #Patriots which has been expectation since head injury Monday night.”
Collins missed the Texans’ Week 8 win over the 49ers due to a concussion. He has followed a similar practice pattern (DNP) this week.
He returned to practice in a limited fashion the following week and suited up in Week 9
Stroud sat out Houston’s Week 10 victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars for the same reason. Like Collins this week, Stroud’s greatest hurdle was the short week the Texans were on. Stroud returned to practice for the Texans by the end of his third week following the injury.
That this is Collins’ second concussion of the season could certainly impact the Texans’ approach to a serious issue.
Collins, 26, had three receptions for 21 yards in the Wild Card win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Stroud expressed confidence in the Texans’ other wide receivers when presented with the possibility that Collins could miss the contest. Still, Collins is a two-time Pro Bowler and Stroud’s top target in the Texans’ offense. His absence would sting significantly.
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