HOUSTON -- Texans coach DeMeco Ryans announced Friday that quarterback C.J. Stroud has cleared the concussion protocol and will start Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts .

Stroud suffered a concussion against the Denver Broncos in Week 9 and has missed three games. The Texans lost only the Broncos game during Stroud's absence while going undefeated in backup quarterback Davis Mills ' three starts, which included two game-winning drives against the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans . Mills threw for 879 passing yards with five touchdowns and only one interception in his stint.

The Texans going 3-0 in Stroud's absence put them squarely in the AFC playoff race. Houston (6-5) is the No. 8 seed trailing the Buffalo Bills (7-4), who they beat 23-19 in Week 12, for the

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