The Houston Texans’ 0-3 start has already turned into a full-blown talking point, and Andre Johnson is one of the latest voices to weigh in.
Houston entered 2026 with real expectations in the AFC, but three weeks in, the season has tilted hard in the wrong direction. The Texans are staring at another early hole, and Johnson says the blame can’t be pinned on C.J. Stroud alone.
During the Texans’ “Forever H-Town” red carpet event, the Hall of Fame receiver made it clear he likes what he’s seen from the quarterback so far.
"At the end of the day, I like the way C.J.'s been playing," Johnson said. "I think, at the end of the day, it's everybody.
It's not just him. Of course, he's the quarterback.
So, the quarterback's always gonna get the blame when you win or when you lose. It's always gonna be C.J.
Stroud and the Houston Texans lost today or C.J. Stroud in the Texans won today.
"So being in that position, it's tough, it just comes with the territory. I think everybody just, as a team, just have to take that look in the mirror and see what they can do better, just as a player, and how they can get better as a player to help the team be successful, because that's what it's about. It's all about the team."
That’s a notable shift from the comments Johnson made earlier this season, when he took issue with Stroud’s body language in certain moments. This time, the Texans legend is standing up for the quarterback instead of putting more heat on him.
And there’s a reason for that. Stroud hasn’t exactly been working with clean conditions through the first three games.
Houston’s defense has held up well enough, but the offense has been stuck in place. The line has not been much better than it was in 2025, the run game hasn’t done much since David Montgomery’s three-touchdown day in Week 1, and Stroud has also been without his top receiving option while Nico Collins deals with a hamstring injury.
So while Stroud has looked relatively sharp in spots - avoiding mistakes, making better decisions, and showing solid accuracy - the results still haven’t followed. That’s the part Johnson seems to understand: this isn’t just a quarterback problem.
In the NFL, losses on offense usually land on the quarterback first. But Houston’s issues run deeper than that right now, and Johnson’s comments reflect it. Even with Collins potentially returning in Week 4 or 5, the Texans still have plenty to fix before this offense starts looking like anything close to what people expected.
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Texans May Finally Get The Offensive Boost Their 0-3 Start Needed
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DeMeco Ryans sounded optimistic about both players chances to return, which would give Houston something it has not had since the opener: its full projected offensive lineup available at once. For a team still looking for a rhythm, getting Collins and Ingram back would at least offer a chance to see what this group looks like when it is finally intact. [Read more 🡒]