This weekend, will C.J. Stroud play against the Browns?

The Browns and Texans, two of the NFL’s most injured teams, square off in Week 16 as several players on each team are dealing with injuries this week, including Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud.

As we start a new week, the Browns have no fresh, significant injury concerns in front of Week 16. Joel Bitonio, however, is the center of attention as he sustained a back injury during the third series of Sunday’s victory over the Bears and never came back.

Although he didn’t practice on Wednesday, head coach Kevin Stefanski called him day-to-day on Monday, which is not unusual for the seasoned player.

A status update on DE Obo Okoronkwo, who is battling a pectoral injury that might end his season, was also given by Stefanski. But as of right now, the Browns aren’t prepared to make a definitive statement about his future status. Denzel Ward participated fully in practice, while center Ethan Pocic made a limited comeback. This is encouraging.

The most noteworthy story of the week, though, may come from the Browns’ opponent, the Texans, who continue to wait on the availability of rookie sensation C.J. Stroud. Due to a concussion, he missed week fifteen of the season and started the practice week according to league protocol. The outcome of Stroud’s injury will significantly impact the game between the two AFC rivals.

Following a walkthrough practice to kick off the week, Cleveland has the following injury updates for both teams.