Rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud is proving that the Houston Texans have finally found their gunslinger
It was hard not to be in awe of C.J. Stroud’s 470-yard, five-touchdown performance on Sunday, where he set a rookie single-game passing record and tossed the winning score. Houston’s rookie quarterback showed poise and leadership, along with youthful enthusiasm, as he shot holes through the Bucs’ secondary.
It’s been a sight for sore eyes down in Houston, where quarterback woes have seemingly plagued the franchise since its inception in 2002. Starting with the often-sacked David Carr all the way up to the Deshawn Watson debacle, it seems every time the team believes it has a star under center something goes south.
That’s why the Texans decided to spend the second overall pick to select Stroud, hoping he would finally be the franchise QB they have been searching for. So far? They have hit their mark with the first-year player.
After nine games, C.J. Stroud is currently on a 17-game pace for 3,973 yards, 30 touchdowns, and two interceptions. While that’s not the kind of a pace you can expect any QB – let alone a rookie – to stay on, it’s still a clear indication that he’s going to be among the tops in the league in terms of passing stats.
Some media outlets have even suggested that Stroud could do the unheard of – win both the NFL Rookie of the Year and league’s MVP in his first season. The only player who has ever done that before is a fella by the name of Jim Brown (and even his MVP award was split at the time).
Now, there’s likely no chance that will happen, but Stroud has definitely come into the League with both guns blazing. And he’s got everyone talking. Not just about his athleticism, but also his enthusiasm.
From the moment Stroud came bustling out on draft day – grin on his face – you could sense his passion for the game. He’s quickly become a fan favorite in Clutch City, and the kind of Lone Star that the Texans desperately needed.
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And it’s not just Texans fans, either. Collectively, it seems that the entire NFL is watching the shooting match that C.J. the Kid is putting on right now. Veterans and legends have all been singing his praises in unison.
It will be interesting to see where this wild ride takes him from here. The Texans are 4-4 on the year, so there’s no reason to think that if Stroud continues his hot play, they might gallop on into the playoffs. Either way? It appears that the Rookie of the Year Award is all but his now, and he can go into the offseason knowing the franchise will look to build around him.
Meanwhile, C.J. Stroud and his posse will try to rustle up another win this weekend in Cincinnati with a showdown against the Bengals (5-3).
Ryan Boman is the author of the 2023 book, Pop Music & Peanut Butter: A Collection of Essays about Embracing Life with Laughter & Love. Follow him on social media @RyanKBoman