Ahead of the Texans’ second-round playoff clash with the Patriots, a familiar voice in NFL circles - and one with a Super Bowl ring to his name - raised a few eyebrows with some pointed comments about Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud.
Antonio Pierce, a former linebacker who helped end the Patriots’ perfect season in Super Bowl XLII, didn’t hold back when discussing Stroud’s recent performances. Despite having known the 24-year-old quarterback since his middle school days - and even coaching him as an eighth grader - Pierce expressed real concern about whether Stroud is ready to lead a deep playoff run.
“I love him,” Pierce said on CBS Sports’ The NFL Today. “But I just don’t trust him.
I don’t like what I see. I don’t like the body language.”
That’s a strong take, especially considering Stroud’s overall body of work this season. He’s been the Texans’ starter from Day 1 and has shown flashes of the poise and arm talent that made him a top draft pick. But Pierce’s comments weren’t coming out of nowhere - they were grounded in what we saw during Houston’s Wild Card win over the Steelers.
Yes, the Texans walked away with the W, but it wasn’t exactly a clean performance from their quarterback. Stroud fumbled five times in that game - five - and lost two of them.
He also threw a red-zone interception while Houston was clinging to a 7-6 lead in the third quarter. Those are the kinds of mistakes that can flip a playoff game in a heartbeat.
Stroud’s turnover numbers aren’t entirely off the charts - he tied with Drake Maye at eight interceptions during the regular season - but the ball security issues in the postseason have raised legitimate red flags. And Pierce, who knows a thing or two about postseason football, made it clear that this isn’t just about numbers; it’s about trust, leadership, and protecting the football when it matters most.
“I know he’s had a hell of a season,” Pierce said. “But take care of the football, son.
Come on, C.J. You know better.
You’ve been a starter since Day 1. The most important thing is, ball security equals job security.
And for him, he’s just very loose with it … At some point, you got to do your job. Manage the game, take care of the football.”
That’s the crux of it. Houston’s defense - ranked No. 1 - did the heavy lifting in the Wild Card Round.
But if the Texans are going to make a serious run in these playoffs, Stroud has to tighten things up. The arm talent is there.
The leadership potential is there. But in January football, the margin for error shrinks.
One bad decision, one loose ball, can end a season.
Pierce’s comments weren’t meant to tear Stroud down - they were a challenge. A call to rise to the moment. Because if the young quarterback can clean up the turnovers and play within himself, Houston’s ceiling gets a whole lot higher.