C.J. Stroud got the kind of helping hand quarterbacks dream about on Sunday in London: another weapon, another playmaker, and another win for the Houston Texans.
Houston beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 34-31 on a last-second finish, and the game also marked the debut of Marvin Harrison Jr. with the Texans after he was traded by the Arizona Cardinals. Stroud, who spent two seasons alongside Harrison at Ohio State in 2021 and 2022, sounded especially fired up about getting the connection going again.
In Harrison’s first game with Houston, he caught three passes for 34 yards. Stroud said the chemistry picked up quickly.
“it felt like old times.”
“I thought he looked great. We'll get him more touches going forward,” Stroud said, according to Aaron Wilson.
Stroud was sharp all afternoon, piling up 312 passing yards with three touchdown throws and one interception in the AFC South win. The 25-year-old is in the middle of a strong season, and after the game he made it clear how he was feeling.
“Very happy, joyful,” Stroud said, via Wilson. “Joy is a choice.”
Houston’s offense had no shortage of options around him. Nico Collins finished with three catches for 74 yards, Jaylin Noel led the group with four receptions for 107 yards and a touchdown, and Dalton Schultz added four catches for 33 yards.
The Texans are still waiting on Tank Dell, who remains on injured reserve while recovering from a severe knee injury suffered in December of 2024. Stroud said “it's nice” to have all the offensive weaponry available around him.
The victory was Houston’s second straight, and Stroud said he has “hope” for where the group can go from here.
“I have all the hope in our team. The best thing we've done is stay locked in with one another.
You only focus on one thing at a time. Whatever you do, got to be where your feet are'
Houston now turns toward Oct. 25, when the Texans will try to make it three in a row against the New York Giants.
In Other News...
Texans Have A Bigger Halftime Concern Than Their London Lead
The Texans reached halftime in London with a 17-14 edge over Jacksonville, and C.J. Stroud helped get them there by completing 66.6% of his passes and throwing two touchdown passes to Foster Moreau. Houston also got a boost from Henry To'oTo'o, who returned from injured reserve and contributed on defense, giving the club a few reasons to feel good about the way the first half unfolded.
The bigger concern, though, may be what happened on the back end. Safety Reed Blankenship struggled before leaving the game with an injury, and his status could matter as much as the scoreboard if Houston is going to protect its lead after the break. A narrow advantage is one thing, but losing a key defensive piece in a game that still feels very much up for grabs would be a far more pressing issue. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Special Teams Mistake Nearly Cost Them Before Halftime
Special teams often fade into the background until one decision changes the feel of a game, and the Texans were reminded of that in London. In a situation where eight seconds remained before halftime, the choice to put a kickoff into play against the Jaguars carried real risk because of how the clock, the timeouts and the field position could all work against a team in a hurry.
Cam Little also loomed as part of the calculation, with the potential for a long field goal attempt hanging over the end of the half. A single completed pass could have tied things up, which is exactly why the sequence stood out as the kind of special teams moment that can swing momentum without ever showing up in a conventional highlight reel. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Inactive List For London Includes One Surprise Fans Didn't Expect
The Texans Week 6 trip to London comes with a familiar kind of pregame churn, as both Houston and Jacksonville released their inactive lists ahead of the overseas matchup. Houston will be without seven players, including starters Jalen Pitre and David Montgomery, along with offensive tackle Braden Smith, who had just been activated but will not suit up for the game.
For a Texans team already managing injuries, the loss of Smith on top of those other absences adds another wrinkle to a week that has already been anything but routine. Jacksonville has its own issues to sort through, with starting left tackle Anton Harrison and cornerback Jaylon Jones among the Jaguars inactives, leaving both sides to adjust before kickoff in London. [Read more 🡒]