Peyton Manning stands up for former Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud in a big way when he didn’t have to that the Buckeye will appreciate
Former Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud had an impressive rookie season in 2023 after being selected by the Houston Texans with the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL Draft. Stroud hit the ground running in the NFL, winning Offensive Rookie of the Year thanks to a season in which he threw 23 touchdowns to […]
Former Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud had an impressive rookie season in 2023 after being selected by the Houston Texans with the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL Draft.
Stroud hit the ground running in the NFL, winning Offensive Rookie of the Year thanks to a season in which he threw 23 touchdowns to just five interceptions, along with 4,108 passing yards. It was one of the more remarkable rookie quarterback performances in recent memory.
However, his second year didn’t go quite as smoothly. Although Stroud helped lead Houston to the playoffs again, both his individual numbers and the offense’s overall performance saw a dip. Despite concerns, one former NFL great is coming to his defense.
“He went to the playoffs in his second year. He was 22,” Peyton Manning said at Fanatics Fest. “Let’s be careful saying it was a down year, okay? I didn’t win a playoff game until my sixth year. He’s 2-for-2. All he’s trying to do is give the Texans a chance.”
Stroud finished 9-6 as a starter in his rookie season and 10-7 in his second year. After back-to-back playoff appearances, the Texans are looking to build on that momentum. Stroud has one playoff win so far, which came as a rookie in the Wild Card round against the Cleveland Browns.
A sophomore slump is not uncommon, and Stroud experienced a bit of that. The offense struggled at times, prompting changes in several areas to improve heading into the 2025 season.
Having a legendary quarterback like Manning speak up on his behalf has to be encouraging for Stroud, who will soon have the opportunity to silence any remaining doubters as the new season approaches.
