The Houston Texans left Week 2 with another loss, another round of offensive questions and, at least for the moment, a major relief check on C.J. Stroud.
Stroud was limping after Sunday’s 20-6 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, which naturally sparked concern around Houston’s franchise quarterback. But after the game, Stroud said what he was dealing with was nothing more than normal soreness. That should calm any fears that he picked up something more serious in a rough afternoon for the Texans.
That matters plenty for a team that’s already 0-2 and trying to avoid an early-season hole. Houston has bigger problems than a sore quarterback, but not many would have felt worse than losing Stroud for any stretch of time. Keeping him upright is central to whatever rebound the Texans hope to mount in the coming weeks.
The loss itself came with familiar frustrations. Houston moved the ball through the air, but it still only managed six points.
Stroud completed 30 of 55 passes for 353 yards, a stat line that showed volume without enough payoff. The Texans couldn’t finish drives, and that left them staring at a second straight defeat.
Still, the biggest takeaway from the postgame scene was Stroud’s health. He finished the game, and his own explanation of the limp points to soreness rather than something more alarming.
There will be plenty for Houston to sort through after back-to-back losses, especially on offense and in the red zone. But with Stroud apparently fine, the Texans at least head into Week 3 without adding a quarterback injury to the list of issues they need to fix.
In Other News...
C.J. Strouds Brutal Texans Stat Says Everything About This Loss
Even in a game where the scoreboard told the story, C.J. Stroud managed to carve out a strange little corner of NFL history. In the Texans 20-6 loss to the Bengals in Week 2, the second-year quarterback did what he could to keep Houston afloat, throwing for 353 yards on 55 attempts while avoiding turnovers in a night when the offense rarely found the end zone.
The result made the stat line feel even more jarring: Stroud became the first quarterback in NFL history to top 350 passing yards without an interception in a game his team still scored fewer than 10 points. For Houston, it was the kind of loss that leaves both sides of the ball with questions, but it also showed how much the Texans are leaning on Stroud even when the offense around him isn't finishing drives. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Run Game Faces An Early Test C.J. Stroud Cant Ignore
The Texans spent the offseason trying to take some of the burden off C.J. Stroud by giving their ground game more structure and support, and Week 1 offered an early look at where that project stands. Against the Bills, the running backs brought effort but not much efficiency, with David Montgomery finishing at 3.0 yards per carry as Houston searched for a steadier way to stay ahead of the chains.
Now the attention shifts to Cincinnati, where the rebuilt offensive line and backfield get another tough assignment. The Bengals bring a defensive front that can make life difficult in a hurry, and the presence of Dexter Lawrence II only raises the degree of difficulty for a Texans run game still trying to prove it can be more than a work in progress. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Offense Already Has An Early Problem They Need To Fix
The Texans are already dealing with an offense that looks out of sync two weeks into the season, and the loss to the Bengals only sharpened the concern. Without Nico Collins because of a hamstring injury, Houston had trouble stretching the field, and the passing game leaned heavily on Dalton Schultz, who finished with 12 catches for 140 yards while the rest of the attack struggled to find much rhythm.
The bigger issue was how little the run game and red zone offense offered when the Texans needed balance most. David Montgomery and Woody Marks combined for just 18 yards on 14 carries, and Houston came away empty on all four of its red zone trips. At 0-2, the Texans do not need to panic yet, but they do need answers quickly if this offense is going to keep up in the AFC South. [Read more 🡒]