The Houston Texans’ move to bring in Marvin Harrison Jr. gave C.J. Stroud exactly what you’d expect: excitement, familiarity and a clear belief the pairing can work again.
On Sunday, Houston landed the former Arizona Cardinals wide receiver and a 2027 seventh-round pick in exchange for a 2027 second-round pick and a 2027 sixth-round pick. Stroud, speaking with reporters, didn’t hide how he feels about the reunion with his former Ohio State teammate.
"I think he brings a dynamic playmaker," Stroud said. "Somebody who runs great routes, can catch really any ball.
I loved him in college. He's probably the hardest worker I’ve ever been around in my life.
And just who he is off the field, he’s a great dude, quiet guy, but definitely, you feel his presence. I’m excited to get him in here and get him learning and get him around the other guys.
It’s perfect for him. I think fresh starts are good, so I’m excited to get him with us."
The connection between the two is the obvious headline here. Stroud and Harrison already know what it looks like when the chemistry clicks, and now Houston gets to find out whether that carries over at the pro level.
The Texans were clearly looking for another receiver, and Harrison gives them a swing on a young talent with room to grow. Whether the change of scenery unlocks more remains the big question.
Through four games this season, Harrison has one touchdown, five receptions, and 85 receiving yards. Reuniting with Stroud gives him a chance to reset, and the Texans are betting that can lead to something bigger.
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Texans Get One Big Boost Before Crucial Titans Showdown
The Texans head into a crucial AFC South matchup against Tennessee with a mixed injury picture that still offers some encouragement. Tank Dell has already been ruled out, leaving Houston to adjust its passing game again, but the defense got a much-needed lift as Will Anderson Jr. and Azeez Al-Shaair returned to full participation in practice and are expected to be available.
Even with those two back on track, the week is hardly clean on either side of the ball. Several other Texans are still working through questionable or limited designations, so the final game-day roster could still shift before kickoff. Against a Titans team that always seems to make these divisional meetings feel heavier than the record suggests, Houston will be watching the injury report closely right up to the end. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Backfield Just Took Another Hit Fans Were Dreading
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Montgomerys status now hangs on how serious the injury turns out to be, and it lands at an awkward moment for a team that has already been dealing with multiple groin issues among its players lately. For Houston, the concern is not just losing one back for an afternoon, but whether this becomes another short-term setback in a stretch where the injury luck in the backfield has been running thin. [Read more 🡒]
Titans-Texans Just Took A Sudden Turn With Houston's Backfield
Houstons backfield took a hit in the middle of its Week 5 matchup with Tennessee when David Montgomery was downgraded to out after leaving in the second quarter with a groin injury. The Texans made the call official and ruled him out for the rest of the game, forcing the offense to adjust on the fly at a spot where game-to-game stability matters plenty.
With Montgomery unavailable, Houston will have to lean more heavily on its other running backs and the passing game to carry the load the rest of the way. The bigger question now is what this injury means beyond Sunday, because the team has not offered any detail yet on how serious it is or whether it could affect his availability in the coming weeks. [Read more 🡒]