Vegas is Tipping Houston’s Hand
Photo Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Cleveland’s stout defense will likely not have to face the NFL’s undisputed top rookie QB in Week 16.
INJURY REPORT: CJ Stroud (concussion) still sidelined on Thursday
— The Fantasy Source (@FantasySource_) December 21, 2023
The Texans’ signal caller missed last week’s game vs. the Titans due to being in the concussion protocol. For this week, Stroud is trending in the wrong direction if he wants to play, as he has yet to log in a practice.
If he misses a second consecutive week, the Browns will go up against one of their former players: Case Keenum.
Due to the news that Keenum is likely to start over Stroud, Cleveland has gone from 2.5 point underdogs to 2.5 point favorites.
Keenum has been a journeyman QB in his time in the NFL. After beginning his career with Houston, he now finds himself back with the Texans. Houston also happens to be where he spent his college years as a passer, where he set and still holds the NCAA record in completions, passing yards, and touchdowns. After splitting time between the Texans and Rams over the first five years of his career, he has gone on to play for six teams, including the Browns, over the past seven years.
Keenum had modest production against a below average Tennessee pass defense in Week 15. In his first start of 2023, he threw for 228 yards, one touchdown and one interception. In the likely event that CJ Stroud will not suit up this week, he will face a Browns pass defense that has allowed both the fewest passing yards and fewest completions in the NFL in 2023.
When asked about his former QB, head coach Kevin Stefanski remarked that Keenum is “somebody that I have a ton of respect for.”
Kevin Stefanski on his former #Browns and #Vikings QB Case Keenum, who would start for #Texans Sunday if C.J. Stroud can’t go: pic.twitter.com/7dD6Fx2xTM
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) December 18, 2023
Stroud is only one player on a long list for Houston on this week’s injury report. On offense, the entire receiving corps (Nico Collins, Noah Brown, Robert Woods, John Metchie III) has been limited at practice for various reasons. On defense, defensive end and 2023 third overall pick Will Anderson has not practiced all week due to an ankle injury, and is not expected to play on Sunday.
This matchup is a critical one for Cleveland. After narrowly escaping the Chicago Bears last weekend at home, the Browns are currently holding onto the fifth seed in the AFC and are still in contention for the AFC North crown. They are one game ahead of both the Bengals and the Colts, who hold the sixth and seventh seed in the AFC playoff picture. A win this weekend would further increase Cleveland’s playoff hopes, and they can even clinch a playoff berth this weekend through a myriad of scenarios.
After this week, Cleveland will close out the regular season with a home matchup against the reeling Jets and a road game against the surging Bengals.
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