The Houston Texans have been looking dominant lately in the ongoing season. But their commending run has not been smooth, considering various factors outside the game. Last weekend, an injury-riddled squad took on the Bengals and got the job done. While expectations of recovery surrounded the side, the new updates seem to be even more distressing for CJ Stroud and his team.

Their week 11 injury report is out for the Cardinals game, and it’s longer than the starting lineup. The rising situation of crisis creates trouble for the Texans and their QB, especially when a team has eight players who did not practice in the middle of the season. The new developments on the injury list undoubtedly do not fall easy on the team at this crucial junction to make it to the playoffs.

Multiple first-team players on the injury list before the Cardinals game

Just as things were starting to look perfect for the young QB, CJ Stroud, the inevitable factor struck the team. A side’s biggest enemy, that is the injury report, has claimed its victims before the Texans can safely extend their winning streak to three. Multiple of the first team names did not practice with the team on Wednesday’s practice.

As many as eight were completely missing from the practice and five more had limited engagements with serious injuries. WR Noah Brown(knee), LB Jake Hansen(hamstring/hand), TE Brevin Jordan(foot), RB Damion Pierce(ankle), LB Henry To’oto’o(concussion), T LAremy Tunsil(knee), S Jimmy Ward(hamstring), and WR Robert Woods(foot), all are uncertain for tomorrow’s presence on the field due to varied injuries.

To’oto’o is in a concussion protocol that makes him unavailable for at least a few more days in the training, and the LB could also miss the Cardinals game. Other than these names, the Texans had five players with limited practice and as many players with full practice on Wednesday.

Read More: Hinting at Encountering Similar Problems With Gisele Bündchen, Tom Brady Gives Valuable Advice to CJ Stroud

But how will the injuries affect the team that has remained defensively consistent and offensively brilliant lately in the season?

CJ Stroud is still leading the side from the front

Luckily for the Texans, rookie QB CJ Stroud remains far from the injury scares. He will once again lead the team from the front and announce his arrival in the league with another feather in the hat. The brilliant rookie is not only the frontrunner for the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year award but also the best quarterback of the season.

Topping names like Tua Tagovailoa, Josh Allen, and Patrick Mahomes, the 22-year-old has already 2626 yards to his name for 196/318, 15 touchdowns, and an impressive passer rating of 101. When the QB fared against Joe Burrow last week, much was being speculated if he was good enough to handle a robust defense like the Bengals and outthrow Joe Burrow.

But with 23/39 for 356 yards and 1 touchdown, the rookie has more than answered those speculations. This week the Texans on paper seem a bit weaker with nearly a whole team remaining out of practice. But against a 2-8 Cardinals, it might be just about enough for Stroud to assemble his available resources and push for the win without much concern.

WATCH THIS STORY: Jason Kelce reacts to the world’s sexiest man alive and brother Travis Kelce’s wise words that define his beauty.