HOUSTON – For the second time this season, Texans stellar rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week.
The NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year frontrunner earned that distinction as he led the Texans to a playoff berth for the first time since 2019 and an AFC South division title.
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The second overall pick and two-time Heisman Trophy finalist from Ohio State completed 20-of-26 passes for 264 yards, two touchdown passes and AFC-best 134.1 passer rating in a 23-19 win over the Indianapolis Colts that punched the Texans’ ticket to the postseason. With the game tied at 17 in the fourth quarter, Stroud engineered a 12-play, 73-yard scoring drive going 7-for-7 for 82 yards in the process. It marked Stroud’s rookie-best third game-winning drive.
For the season, Stroud passed for 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns and five interceptions for a passer rating of 100.8.
He’s the third player in NFL history to lead the NFL in passing yards per game and touchdown-interception ratio in the same season, joining an exclusive fraternity with Tom Brady and Joe Montana.
“It’s pretty cool,” Stroud said Tuesday. “I’m definitely where I want to be is up there with those guys at the end of my career. Every year that I can go out there and prove myself and put good things on tape and protect the football or do things like that, I think that’s a good thing for the Texans and I’m really, it’s just really cool to see those great names next to mine, but I know I have a lot more to do in my career and I want to do a lot more, so my head is down, just working. Just want to do more, so you know.”
Stroud had drawn criticism at times with many doubting his skills, especially during the draft process. Obviously, their assessment was incorrect about the California native.
“Say what you want,” Stroud said. “I can’t tell somebody how to feel. Everybody’s entitled to their own opinion. I’m going to do my job to the best of my ability. If you like it, like it. If you don’t, you don’t. Most people just say stuff to get clicks and likes and that’s cool, but we’re the ones out there. We’re the men in the area, so I don’t really care, to be honest. I’ll respect everybody’s opinion, and whatever it is, I’ll get better, whatever y’all think I need to get better at. Really, it’s just ultimately what my coaches and my teammates want. And winning games, that’s what matters.”
The Texans finished 10-7 after going 3-13-1 last year. They host the Cleveland Browns in a playoff game Saturday afternoon at NRG Stadium.
“It’s been cool,” Stroud said. “It’s been a long, long year for me, a lot of ups and downs. A lot of growing, a lot of learning – not only as a football player, but as a man and as a person. I’m truly just grateful and blessed to be in the position I am. I’ll probably start reminiscing whenever February comes around or whenever our season ends. We’ll see. I’m blessed though, and I’m really appreciative of everything that’s happened to me this year.”
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com