A C.J. Stroud hit became the center of controversy in Week 9 when Denver Broncos player Kris Abrams-Draine hit the Houston Texans star as he was sliding. A scrum broke out amongst players, and boo’s rained down from the fans. Stroud was immediately tested for a concussion after taking the brutal hit to the head and was ruled out for the rest of the game.
Backup quarterback Davis Mills replaced Stroud. In 30 attempts, Mills completed 17 passes for 137 yards and no touchdowns. The Texans’ defense is ranked third in PFSN’s NFL Defensive Impact rating, which helped keep the team in the game. Alas, their 26th-ranked offense in PFSN’s NFL Offensive Impact model didn’t give their defense any help, and the Texans lost by a score of 18-15, dropping their season record to 3-5.
Texans Player Regards it as a “BS Call”
Following the game, Texans players were visibly frustrated about the hit on Stroud, especially given the intensity of the play and his overall importance to the team. Edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. spoke out against the penalty, or lack thereof, after refs determined it was a clean hit.
“It was very unfortunate, I think it was a bs call. We talk about protecting quarterbacks and C.J. is a big name in this league. He’s a quarterback that a lot of people love and watch and we love him here. I hope we can get him back whenever we do, and we’re going to just keep fighting for him,” says Anderson Jr. when asked about the hit.
Anderson Jr’s. Comments reflect both concern for Stroud’s safety and frustration with the league’s inconsistent enforcement of rules, particularly those regarding the protection of the quarterback. Despite being a defensive player himself, Anderson Jr. understands the importance of safeguarding opposing defenseless players while still maintaining a competitive attitude.
Following that response, Anderson Jr. was asked whether his opinion on it being a “BS” call had changed, considering they ruled it a clean play since there was no contact above the shoulder.
He immediately responds with, “You see the play and he still got hit in the head to me. Like I said, it’s whatever, it’s the league. They let them make the call and we just have to be able to play through the call and keep rallying and it really doesn’t matter what call the ref calls, we gotta go out and execute.”
The controversy regarding the hit on Stroud is more than just a single play; it highlights the ongoing debate in the NFL about quarterback safety and consistency in officiating. While the league may rule the play clean, it directly impacted Stroud being put into concussion protocol and is deserving of note as a “BS call.”
As the Texans move forward, protecting Stroud in the future should be a top priority, as this incident will serve as a reminder of the balance between enforcing rules and allowing the game to remain physical.