In his rookie season, CJ Stroud has turned the tide for the Houston Texans, showcasing impressive performances. Texans who saw one of its worst seasons last year are still in contention for a playoff spot as they face their division rivals, the Indianapolis Colts, in Week 18. What’s special about Stroud is his habit of being very close to the game and watching game tapes repeatedly. But he has another quirky habit that some might find weird.
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Houston is entering Week 18 as the 9th seed in the AFC and they have a 62% chance of making the playoffs. Texans are enjoying their run this season with their one-of-a-kind quarterback.
Around three months ago, the 22-year-old shared insights about his journey to becoming the top NFL quarterback in his class. He described how he keeps an iPad around and dedicates a lot of time to watching films and studying the game extensively to enhance his skills. Furthermore, Stroud stated,
“I always used to keep a football on that as well. Just because I don’t know it’s like my baby. I sleep with my football sometimes. I know its weird.”
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He mentioned an interesting habit of keeping a football at all times. He humorously mentioned how he sometimes even slept with the football close by, comparing it to treating it like his baby. This “weird” practice as he described it, highlighted his strong connection and dedication to the sport. His commitment to the game is reflected when he expressed, it wasn’t about using the football as a pillow, but more so having it around.
CJ Stroud, selected as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft, has earned a place among the finest rookie quarterbacks in history. While he started the season with a tough 25-9 defeat against the Baltimore Ravens, Stroud swiftly rebounded. Remarkably, in his inaugural season, he boasts a commendable 8-6 record. Notably, ESPN has recently ranked him as the third-best rookie QB in the past 25 years, placing him ahead of renowned names like Ben Roethlisberger, Cam Newton, and Peyton Manning.
CJ Stroud Reshaping his Team’s Fortunes
The Houston Texans clinched the AFC South title in 2019, having a solid 10-6 record. Unfortunately, they faced back-to-back losing seasons thereafter. In both 2020 and 2021, they ended up in third place in their division with a 4-13 record. Things worsened last season, as they struggled to a 3-13-1 record. The departure of quarterback Deshaun Watson left a significant gap that the team urgently needed to fill.
For the past two seasons, Dave Millis started most games, but unfortunately, it wasn’t successful for the Texans. In the last season, Millis started in 15 games but managed only three wins. He totaled 3,118 yards, throwing 17 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.
The Texans were eager to find a young quarterback to lead their team and decided to go with Ohio State’s standout QB, CJ Stroud last season. This two-time Heisman finalist has played in 14 games up to Week 17 and has recorded 3,844 yards, 21 touchdowns, and only 5 interceptions. His pass completion rate stands at 63.2%.
Stroud’s arrival has strengthened the Texans, putting them in a similarly strong position they held four years ago. Now, they have a solid chance to win their division and secure a spot in the playoffs. With the win over the Colts, the Texans have made it to the playoff for the first time since 2019.
