Russell Wilson understands what it’s like to set the league on fire in his first season. So when he said Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud “is having one of the best rookie years ever,” it might be wise to take the Broncos signal caller’s word for it.
Stroud’s numbers through 11 games have been impressive. He is second in the league in passing yards (3,266), tied for seventh in touchdown passes (19) and has the eighth-best adjusted quarterback rating at 62.7.
He added to his impressive resume when he was named the AFC Offensive Player and Rookie of the Month for November. Stroud is the second rookie quarterback in NFL history to win Player of the Month, joining the Browns’ Deshaun Watson.
“It’s not luck, it’s who he is,” defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said. “Watching the tape — the reads, the accuracy, the poise — it’s all there. What you’re watching and what you’re reading — it’s for real.”
But as much admiration as Wilson and the rest of the team have for Stroud, the Broncos understand that the young quarterback is another roadblock in their quest to reach the postseason.
“We are up to the challenge as a defense,” cornerback Pat Surtain II said. “Everyone is locked in and ready to go.”
Head coach Sean Payton called Stroud, the second overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft, a unique talent, as the former Ohio State standout doesn’t look like a first-year player whenever he watches him on tape.
Surtain has been amazed by Stroud’s poise. He said Stroud is good at remaining calm and collected, no matter the situation and what opposing defenses throw at him.
In Week 9, Stroud threw for 470 yards and five touchdowns to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a back-and-forth thriller. Houston was down by four points before Stroud led his team down the field and threw a go-ahead touchdown pass to rookie wideout Tank Dell with six seconds left in regulation.
A week later against the Cincinnati Bengals, the rookie put together a six-play, 55-yard scoring drive in the final 93 seconds, which ended with kicker Matt Ammendola nailing a game-winning 38-yard field goal as time expired.
“He’s got that clutch gene. He’s got some ‘It’ factor to him,” Wilson said. “We saw that in college and I think it’s translated (to the NFL).”
Surtain said the team has closely studied Stroud’s quick release. He thinks the release puts pressure on defenses because it’s hard to get a good track on the football.
Stroud has been throwing efficiently, completing 63.7% of his passes. He is also not afraid to let the ball fly down the field. Stroud has seven touchdowns and a 142.2 passer rating on attempts of 20-plus yards, according to Pro Football Focus.
“What I see on tape is if a guy’s open, he’s going to hit him,” Joseph said. “His accuracy is special. Guys are showing him shell and moving to single high, and he’s moving through it pretty quickly. It’s completion after completion.”
Broncos outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper was in his fifth year at Ohio State when Stroud arrived as a freshman in 2020. Cooper said Stroud was a super raw talent at the time but displayed great leadership skills and confidence that has translated to the NFL.
Payton said Stroud’s confidence has been contagious. He is the poster child of a young Texans squad that believes in themselves despite who they face.
“It’s unusual what he’s accomplishing as a rookie. It’s not normal,” Payton said.
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