C.J. Stroud’s prove-it year is off to a nightmare start
Stroud is inline for a new contract, but so far he's not shown the Texas he's worth a massive payday.
C.J. Stroud's first few weeks in the NFL have been far from ideal. On January 18, 2026, during the Texans' divisional round game against the New England Patriots, Stroud threw four interceptions, a performance that proved to be disastrous for his team. This has overshadowed the fact that Drake Maye, Stroud's counterpart in that game, struggled as well.
Since then, the Texans have lost three of their first three games, sitting at 0-3. While the AFC South is becoming increasingly competitive, Houston appears to have a strong defense. Stroud, in the final year of his rookie deal, recognizes the importance of this season for his future. He emphasized the need for the team to be more aggressive and generate more explosive plays.
Despite the challenges, Stroud expressed confidence in the team's ability to learn from past mistakes and improve moving forward.
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