C.J. Stroud, already in his fourth NFL season, just took home AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors after an absolutely fantastic game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he put up 312 passing yards and three touchdowns against a tough defense. The man was on fire, leading the Texans to a huge win and flashing the kind of talent that makes you think he’s the best quarterback in the NFL last week. He even led all quarterbacks in EPA per play for Week 6. Talk about an upswing!
The Rollercoaster Ride of Stroud’s Fourth Season
It’s been a wild ride for Stroud this season alone. We’ve seen weeks where he looks like an absolute top-tier quarterback and others where things are just… quiet. The Texans started the season 0-4, and while Stroud wasn’t the only reason for the losses, both he and the Houston offense definitely had some quiet games during that stretch. Remember that 19-17 loss to the Colts? Stroud only managed 167 yards, and the Texans offense crawled to a pathetic 93 yards through three quarters against what was a pretty bad Indianapolis defense. Ouch. That definitely had folks scratching their heads.
But hold up, because the past three weeks have been a completely different story. Houston has turned things around, going 2-1, and Stroud has been nothing short of excellent. He’s been the engine behind resuscitating their whole season, spreading the ball around with pinpoint passes and making big plays look easy, just like he did against the Jaguars.
The $50 Million Dollar Gamble That’s Paying Off Big
Here’s where it gets really interesting, and frankly, a little bit mind-blowing. Stroud is still playing on his rookie deal, and that’s because he *refused* a massive contract extension this year! ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported in September that the Texans were ready to sign him to a deal “worth well above $50 million per year.” Stroud passed on it, seeing a “bigger picture.” A few weeks ago, after that Colts game, that gamble might have looked a little shaky, right?
But man, has the picture changed! Over his last three games, Stroud has been absolutely lighting it up. He’s gone 71 of 99 for a whopping 921 yards, tossed six touchdowns, and thrown only one interception. That’s good for a ridiculous 116.6 passer rating. That kind of play makes you look like a genius for betting on yourself. The Texans themselves have said they won’t negotiate a contract with Stroud now that the season has started; they’ll wait until the offseason. You gotta wonder what that price tag is going to look like then.
Stroud has had an odd career, even though he’s only played 52 games. His rookie season was absolutely remarkable, snagging NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year with 23 touchdowns and just five interceptions, a season for the history books. Then his numbers dipped over the next two seasons, and a playoff meltdown where he threw four interceptions in a loss to the Patriots made for an offseason of doubt. But right now, he’s silencing all those whispers and making a very strong case for the future.
The Texans are on a roll, and with Stroud playing like this, the league has to be taking notice. Every single play he makes from now until the offseason is just stacking more cash onto that already massive payday that’s waiting for him. You love to see a player bet on himself and win.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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