Houston Texans QB C.J. Stroud Named NFL Rookie, AFC Offensive Player of the Month
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud continued his MVP campaign through the month of November with a solid tear on the field, and he was rewarded with a pair of league honors as a result on Thursday.
Stroud was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Month as well as the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month after his productive streak with the Texans. Through his four games in November, Stroud threw for 1,466 yards and 10 touchdowns paired with four interceptions, and he also set a new NFL rookie record for passing yards in a single game with 470 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
During this stretch, Stroud had the most passing yards in the NFL and most passing touchdowns in the AFC, and he is the first rookie to ever throw for over 300 yards in four straight games.
Stroud recently spoke with the media where he detailed how the NFL game has "slowed down" for him since he joined the league this season.
Nov 19, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) looks for an open receiver during the game against the Arizona Cardinals at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
© Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
“I would say probably in the preseason," Stroud said. "That’s something even I wish in college we had was a preseason warm-up game or whatever, but you get to get your feet wet out there and test the water, see what throws you can make, see what throws you can’t, and practice has been huge for me.
"I think the best teacher is failing. I’ve failed a lot, and I’ve learned from those mistakes, and I’ve been growing from that since really I came in during rookie minicamp. So it’s been kind of cool just to see the progress, not only for myself but really for this team and every rookie we have.”
If the season ended today, the Texans would not reach the postseason, but they are in contention for a playoff berth, thanks in large part to Stroud's performance in his rookie campaign.
Houston returns to action this weekend when they play host to the Denver Broncos at NRG Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 12 p.m. CT, and the game will be televised on CBS.
