C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans lost 21-13 to the New York Jets on “Thursday Night Football” in Week 9. This was the Jets’ first win since Week 3, and they are now 3-6 on the season.
The Texans suffered their third loss of the season, and Stroud did not play well. Fans on social media did not waste any time calling out the Texans quarterback for his poor performance.
Fans Troll C.J. Stroud for Week 9 Performance vs. Jets
In the loss to the Jets, Stroud completed only 36.67% of his throws for 191 yards and no touchdowns. The Texans’ offense looked clueless at times, and the fans were quite angry about it.
CJ Stroud is just awful
Low energy, Low football IQ
— 🎃 (@shrunkdeep) November 1, 2024
“Stroud too busy doing his 5 weekly podcast appearances to be able to play offense without [Nico Collins] bailing him out,” said one fan.
“C.J. Stroud looked like Bryce Young tonight. Terrible,” added another fan.
CJ stroud is giving his best stat Prescott impersonation. Trying to make his numbers look better when the game is over
— J-d (@Eagles98Go) November 1, 2024
“Stroud hype train about to grind to a halt,” wrote another fan.
“Stroud looks like an HS QB out there. Overrated,” added a fan.
“Stroud without Nico and [Stefon Diggs] is Mitch Trubisky,” said another user on X.
CJ Stroud been throwing to Victor Wembanyama this game.
— DOT 🎯🚀 (@H_Town_Dot) November 1, 2024
Many grouped Stroud among the top five quarterbacks in the league heading into this NFL season. Unfortunately, the Texans quarterback seems to be in a sophomore slump, as he has not played anything close to how he did in his rookie season.
In nine games this season, Stroud has thrown for 2,139 yards, 11 touchdowns, and four interceptions, completing 63.5% of his throws with a passer rating of 91.9.
Injuries to Diggs and Collins have made the Texans’ offense worse. Diggs is out of the season, while Collins is expected to return in Week 10. Given their Super Bowl aspirations this season, it will be interesting to see whether they make a move at the trade deadline.
According to Spotrac, the Texans currently have $6.2 million in cap space. The AFC South franchise can create more space by restructuring the contracts of some players if needed.
Texans Need To Fix Their Offensive Line
The Texans’ offensive line has become a major issue. Stroud was sacked eight times in the team’s loss to the Jets, which is a worrying sign. The Ohio State product has already been sacked 30 times this season, and the franchise should try to make changes to protect their quarterback.
Pro Football Network’s Dallas Robinson ranks the Texans’ offensive line as the 22nd best in the league. Houston can’t win a Super Bowl with how its current offensive line is playing, and general manager Nick Caserio might be forced to make moves at the trade deadline or consider the available free agents.
READ MORE: NFL Trade Deadline — Deals That Make Sense Before Nov. 5
The Texans’ next two games are against the Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys. Both these teams can exploit Houston’s offensive line issues, and it will be tough to keep Stroud healthy.
Having Collins back will make things easier for the second-year quarterback; despite that, the team should prioritize improving its offensive line in the coming days.