Former Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud has made Texas his home after being picked 2nd overall by the Houston Texans in the 2023 NFL Draft. As the city faces flash floods, he is sending prayers for its well-being. Stroud’s gesture comes after the Texans pledged half a million dollars for flood relief.
C.J. Stroud Praying for Texas Amid Flash Floods
The floods have claimed the lives of over 51 people, while 27 people are missing, and warnings remain in effect across the region. The Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge sits in the warning area, surrounded by communities like Liberty Hill, Lake Victor, and Scobee.
Stroud shared a heartfelt message of support for the community on his Instagram story, writing: “Praying for Texas.”
C.J. Stroud Foundation, which focuses on children with incarcerated parents, also shared an emotional statement in support of the community: “We are deeply saddened by all the devastation caused by the Floods in Kerr County and all the Hill Country communities. Our hearts are with the families affected. We pray for strength, hope, and healing.”
Earlier on Saturday, the McNair family, who owns the Texans, donated $500,000 to support flood relief efforts in the Texas Hill Country communities. “Our hearts will remain with everyone affected, and in addition to our donation, we will continue to support the search, rescue, and recovery efforts in the coming weeks,” the family said.
Stroud Set to Bounce Back After Sophomore Slump
Stroud was off to an electric start to his rookie year and threw for 4,108 yards and 23 touchdowns to win the Offensive Rookie of the Year award. However, he went from the longest streak of passes without an interception to a turnover machine in 2024. Stroud finished the regular season with 12 consecutive qualifying games without grading above a C on PFSN’s QB+ rating.
“In a weird way, I was more impressed by C.J. Stroud in Year 2 because the situation around him completely fell apart.” @SamMonsonNFL breaks down Stroud’s sophomore season and explains why he’s expecting big things in Year 3 🎯 pic.twitter.com/N36TAqMOFc
— Check the Mic with Steve Palazzolo & Sam Monson (@CTM_Show) June 18, 2025
Losing the likes of Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell ahead of the playoffs due to injuries also stunted their offensive variety. However, the Texans have added plenty of weapons this offseason and have a new-look receiver room in 2025 with Nico Collins and second-round rookie Jayden Higgins serving as top targets for Stroud.
Houston also added two more talented receivers by trading for Christian Kirk and drafting Jaylin Noel in the third round.
There were concerns about Stroud’s health when he was not throwing during the OTAs, but the 23-year-old was back under center for mandatory minicamp and took first-team reps. The Texans have fallen consecutively in the Divisional Round in the last two seasons, and with their new additions on offense, all eyes will be on Stroud to lead them on a deeper postseason run.
