Texans, Stroud Continue to Avoid Disaster Despite Loss vs. Colts

The Houston Texans lost to the Indianapolis Colts, 31-20, but quarterback C.J. Stroud continued to show promise.

There’s a reason why the Houston Texans weren’t expected to make the playoffs in the first year of new head coach DeMeco Ryans’ administration. Keeping that perspective can help evaluate Houston as the season goes on.

The Texans fell in their home opener, 31-20, to the AFC South rival Indianapolis Colts. Fellow rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson left the game early under concussion protocol, but Houston failed to put a dent in Indianapolis’ two-possession lead.

Disappointing? Sure, but this Texans team is riddled with injuries up front. A Week 2 loss is neither surprising nor the end of the world. Most importantly, quarterback C.J. Stroud continued to look pretty good, especially considering the circumstances.

The first step in surviving as a rookie quarterback is avoiding disaster. Turnover-filled games and embarrassing gaffes can be damaging to a neophyte’s confidence, and once that’s gone, few coaches can salvage it.

Even at 0-2, Stroud has provided some promise. He completed 30-of-47 passes on Sunday, throwing for two touchdowns and avoiding an interception. He took six sacks and lost two fumbles, but at no point did he look overmatched.

Part of Stroud’s appeal was his makeup—he’s as tough as nails and the embodiment of a passer who has unshakeable confidence. This was epitomized in last year’s College Football Playoff, where he dragged his Ohio State Buckeyes to the finish line before falling to the eventual champion Georgia Bulldogs.

“C.J. is a competitor,” Ryans said after the loss. “He showed that. He continued to fight no matter what the odds were stacked against him. No matter who’s in front of him, it doesn’t matter. He has a winning mindset.”

That mindset has earned him the respect and trust of the coaching staff and locker room. In all likelihood, the wins that Houston hopes for won’t be plentiful. Still, Stroud represents the path back to relevance. By continuing to avoid disaster, he’s doing his part in fulfilling the Texans’ rebuild.

The scoreboard is secondary to the rookie’s development, but Stroud will have a chance to earn his first win against the Jacksonville Jaguars next Sunday. Until then, fans can take solace in his rookie campaign meeting expectations.