Texans star in no doubt about franchise future after CJ Stroud's dazzling start
Houston Texans player Brevin Jordan is delighted with the franchise for drafting CJ Stroud.
The 21-year-old has produced some impressive numbers over the course of the first three games of his NFL career. According to StatMuse, Stroud has registered 906 yards with four touchdowns, and no interceptions to start his career, with a passer rating of 98.0. These numbers outweigh the statistics recorded by legend Peyton Manning over his first three NFL games.
Though the Texans suffered successive defeats to begin the season, Stroud led his team to a 37-17 upset of the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. Stroud completed 20 of 30 passes for 280 yards, while also throwing for two touchdowns, one of which included a pass to Jordan who raced through the end zone.
The youngster's numbers meant he became the first quarterback in NFL history to have at least 900 passing yards, four pass touchdowns and zero interceptions in his first three career starts. Having watched Stroud perform during training, Jordan is not surprised by his teammate's impressive start to his rookie year.
"The best thing that happened to the Houston Texans' franchise was us beating the Indianapolis Colts last game, last year," the Texans tight end told ESPN. "We drafted the right guy. Man, he's a leader. He's a phenomenal player and a phenomenal guy with God-given talent. Dude, he's unbelievable."
Joe Burrow backs Patrick Mahomes after Kansas City Chiefs reach Super BowlThe Texans’ victory over the Indianapolis Colts in week 18 of the 2022 season proved vital in their ability to select Stroud as the second overall draft pick back in April. That moved the franchise from the No. 1 overall pick slot to the No. 2 spot. The Chicago Bears earned the No. 1 pick and traded it to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for four draft picks and wide receiver DJ Moore.
But the Super Bowl 50 runners-up chose to select Bryce Young instead of CJ Stroud, and the latter is currently thriving while Young has struggled. “I have great guys around me,” Stroud told ESPN after Sunday’s game. “Nothing I can do without those guys up front battling, the receiver running the right route at the right depth, [offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik] calling the right plays at the right time.”
While playing the Colts in week two, Stroud threw for 384 yards which was marked the second-highest number by a player 21 or under since the merger (1970), with only Matthew Stafford who threw 422 yards in 2009 ahead of him. It was the highest mark of any player in Week 2. Stroud also had the second-most passing yards by a Texans rookie in franchise history, behind only Deshaun Watson (402 yards) in 2017.
"Sky is the limit for C.J.," said Texans coach DeMeco Ryans, who earned his first career win of his NFL head coaching career. "He just keeps his head down and keeps working. C.J. is a very humble young man. Everything starts with the quarterback, and we have a good one who's doing really good things.
"He's improved every week. And that's what I like and admire about C.J. is he's dialed into improvement every week. He's not satisfied. He's been a leader for us as an offensive unit, and it's impressive to see a young man continue to get better each week and lead that group."