C.J. Stroud Says Texans Didn’t Practice Well Week Before Rams Loss

There are few things more frustrating, practically infuriating, than people telling you what YOU are thinking. As a somewhat public figure myself, it happens a lot in talk radio. “Oh Sean, you’re just saying that because you don’t like so and so,” or “you’re just angry about….” when I know for sure I am NOT angry. That’s frustrating.

I say this as a preface to my premise for this entire article — on the heels of a 14-9 season opening loss to the Rams, in which the Texans scored zero touchdowns, C.J. Stroud is getting extremely frustrated. Frustrated with himself, to be sure. but the more dangerous frustration comes with his relationship with his new offensive coordinator Nick Caley, and the organization at large. The team has taken multiple swings at fixing the offensive line, and it still looks awful.

Perhaps you’re looking for evidence of my hypothesis, to which I give you Stroud calling out the team’s poor practices leading up to Sunday’s loss:

C.J. Stroud called the Rams loss a “wake up call.”

When asked why — the Texans QB was candid: “We could’ve practiced better.”

He also mentioned it starts with him in his preparation and holding his teammates accountable pic.twitter.com/7EmQkoCUki

— Chancellor Johnson (@ChancellorTV) September 8, 2025

Stroud also had a quote earlier in his postgame press conference where he called out the team (and, to be fair, he included himself) for “lollygagging” and “going through the motions.”  For a person who isn’t prone to demonstrable outbursts, that is damning stuff.  This is the equivalent of a tirade for Stroud.

Stroud knows what good looks like. He was the Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2023, playing behind a mediocre offensive line. Unfortunately, the bottom fell out of the line (and BobbY Slowik’s play calling IQ) midway through last season, and the mojo has never returned, right up through Sunday afternoon, where Stroud faced pressure at 2024 levels again:

C.J. Stroud was pressured on 41.2% of his dropbacks today via NextGenStats.

Stroud completed 9-10 passes for 102 yards today when pressured which recorded a +29.7% CPOE (the highest of Stroud’s career) pic.twitter.com/pOXfOq1IHJ

— Jacob (@TexansJacob) September 7, 2025

Since the Texans’ 6-2 start to 2024, in the regular season, the team is 4-6 in C.J. Stroud’s ten starts, with Stroud himself posting pedestrian numbers — nine touchdowns, nine interceptions, a 60.8 percent completion rate, 33 sacks taken, and an abysmal (by 2025 standards) 78.1 passer rating. For some context, Mac Jones had the 34th best passer rating in football in 2024 at 80.5.

In the short term, the Texans need to get this offense fixed for instant gratification reasons — fan sentiment, confidence in the coaching staff, protecting Stroud, and WINNING GAMES. Looking longer term, though, there is the ominous jumbo elephant in the room of Stroud’s future. Does continued ineptitude on offense affect how the Texans view Stroud? I doubt they’re blaming him.

However, a long term future takes two to tango. Does Stroud remain confident in the Texans moving forward, and in turn, feel that this is the best place for him achieve ultimate success? Or even just remain physically safe? Just a friendly reminder — Stroud’s agent is David Mulugheta, who has experience in requesting trades for Texans quarterbacks.  Mulugheta is Deshaun Watson’s agent.

We aren’t at that DEFCON level yet with Stroud, but at one time, we weren’t at that DEFCON level for Watson either. Until we were.

Listen to Sean Pendergast on SportsRadio 610 from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. weekdays. Also, follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/SeanTPendergast, on Instagram at instagram.com/sean.pendergast, and like him on Facebook at facebook.com/SeanTPendergast.