The Houston Texans did not have a season that fans, media, or even the team itself were expecting in 2024. After an electric rookie season from C.J. Stroud, the Texans started building around him in hopes of a Super Bowl bid. Unfortunately, injuries derailed the plans.
Now, reloaded for the 2025 season, Houston is already witnessing injury scares. Stroud hasn’t been throwing at the Organized Team Activities (OTAs) due to shoulder soreness. While the organization claims there is no concern whatsoever, one analyst says, “Don’t believe that.”
NFL Analyst Says There Are Real Concerns Around C.J. Stroud’s Persistent Shoulder Soreness
The Texans fans are understandably worried to see backup quarterback Davis Mills run the offense while Stroud stands watching from the sidelines. The 23-year-old has been doing some handoffs but hasn’t thrown in any of the media’s watching periods yet.
The Texans’ head coach, DeMeco Ryans, however, did what he could to assuage fears.
“There’s no concern with C.J,” he said following the Texans’ fifth OTA practice. “It’s just general soreness. We’re taking extra precaution with him, but he’ll be good to go. No concerns on my end there.”
However, Ryans declined to answer if Stroud had undergone any treatment on his shoulder, and renowned NFL analyst Trey Wingo suggests we shouldn’t believe what the team says about the QB’s injury.
“C.J. Stroud is not throwing at OTAs because of shoulder soreness,” he said. “The team says they are not concerned; it’s just general soreness, and they think everything should be fine. Don’t believe that.”
Wingo argued that Stroud hadn’t played any football since January, when they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in the Divisional Round, and thus shouldn’t feel soreness. But now that he is, Wingo suggested it was a genuine concern.
“There’s a concern,” Wingo added. “He hasn’t played a football game since January. It’s now June, and he has shoulder soreness. If you have shoulder soreness at OTAs when you haven’t played in months, no matter what the team says. That’s a concern. That is a real situation.”
There should be concerns about CJ Stroud pic.twitter.com/fXc9vk6f0Z
— trey wingo (@wingoz) June 3, 2025
Of course, the worry isn’t about right now. The anxiety stems from the tone set by the injury. If OTAs are rough, it can sometimes be an indicator of the season to come. While players can get back to full health between OTAs and training camp, it only gets harder to heal when the season hits its stride.
This could be Stroud’s last chance to have an injury that won’t create a chain reaction effect leading into the season.