The 2025 regular season was supposed to be a bounce-back campaign for C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans. Instead, it has become a consistent source of consternation over the first three weeks and will lead to a noteworthy change that could help Stroud get going.
That includes Week 3 against their AFC South rival, the Jacksonville Jaguars, which has led to more scrutiny. At the heart of it all is a troubling trend for Stroud that has weighed on the Texans.
On Monday, Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans shared the changes they have planned.
DeMeco Ryans Eyeing More Tempo for C.J. Stroud, Offense
Ryans appeared on “All Access” on Texans Radio, and he spoke about his weekly meetings with Stroud and how he tries to help the third-year QB and offensive coordinator Nick Caley.
Both have been under fire to start the season.
“Any quarterback that plays, they’re always going to have their favorites,” Ryans said on September 22. “When you’re calling it, you just want to make sure you’re starring those plays, and you kind of get those plays called as early as possible when those guys want it. Because, as us all, when it’s something you like, you’re going to, probably, perform it a little bit better.”
“With the tempo and certain plays, C.J. really does a good job. The two-minute. The tempo. That’s where he operates really fast, decisive, making really nice plays. So, we have to kind of lean into that more to put him in positions where he’s playing quick, playing decisive.”
Stroud ranks 14th in time to throw, per Next Gen Stats.
Stroud also has the third-lowest aggressiveness score behind Bo Nix of the Denver Broncos, whom the Texans will host in Week 9, and Caleb Williams of the Chicago Bears.
Former GM Gets Real About C.J. Stroud, Texans
Former Tennessee Titans general manager Ran Carthon is one of many who have taken aim at the Texans, while his fellow CBS Sports panelists took Stroud and Co. to task as well for their early-season struggles.
“This offense is really struggling. And for this defense to be playing as well as it is, I think they’ve only … given up 2 touchdowns in each of the three games this year, and they’ve held opponents to 20 points or less,” Carthon said on “CBS Sports HQ” on September 21. This offense is supposed to be able to score at least 21 points … to close out these games, and they haven’t been able to do that. And so, I really think that they’re struggling on offense right now.”
Fellow panelist Pete Prisco noted that Stroud’s eyes are dropping amid shoddy protection and that the Texans lack anyone to challenge defenses down the field beyond Nico Collins.
Former NFL running back Damien Harris, also on the panel, cast doubt on Nick Chubb.
The Texans’ issues are not all on Stroud.
But as the starting quarterback, who will be extension-eligible next offseason, he is certainly in the crosshairs amid the team’s ominous slow start to the 2025 campaign.
Stroud’s splits before and after the Texans star’s midfield interaction with Williams last season have drawn a lot of attention. However, NFL.com research also noted that Stroud has not passed for at least 250 yards in a single game since Week 11 of last season.
C.J. Stroud Accused of ‘Holding Back’ Texans
Stroud threw for 204 yards, 1 touchdown, and 2 interceptions on 65.8% completion against the Jaguars in Week 3. He also absorbed 2 sacks, giving him at least that many in all three games.
NFL.com’s Michael Baca wrote that Stroud’s “big mistakes” were “holding back the Texans.”
“The Texans’ offensive line struggled protecting their quarterback, and there was little to no ground attack to keep Jacksonville honest,” Baca wrote on September 21. “The few times Stroud did have time to throw, Texans receivers couldn’t get open, forcing Stroud to roll out and sometimes try to make the impossible throw. Stroud … isn’t getting a lot of help from his teammates, but his big mistakes are also holding back the Texans.”
Stroud threw five interceptions over his first 15 starts, all coming as a rookie in 2023, when he was the No. 2 overall pick of the draft. He has thrown 15 interceptions in his last 20 starts, spanning the 2024 and first three games of the 2025 seasons.
Stroud is one of six quarterbacks who have started at least one game and have thrown more interceptions than touchdowns.