C.J. Stroud Isn't Injured But the Quarterback is Banged Up
Plus the offensive line shuffle is coming again
C.J. Stroud said he was banged up after the team’s loss to the Baltimore Ravens. He said it was one of the reasons he wasn’t making as many plays this season as he did last year. He quickly added that was a “terrible excuse.”
When offered the chance to clarify or add to the comment Stroud declined to add or clarify.
No,” he said. “In the season everyone is banged up.”
The excuse remains.
Stroud was not on the first injury report of the week.
It is worth noting the injury report only lists an injury if the player could miss the game because of that injury.
Banged up is a gray area. It isn’t being hurt. It isn’t injured. It can affect your play, but the nature of football is to play through it.
DeMeco Ryans said Stroud was banged up but, like, his quarterback, noted everyone is dealing with something at this portion of the season.
“I think that’s real and that’s real for everyone in the league at this time of the year,” Ryans said. “Everybody is banged up. The amount of games guys have played, the snaps they play, everybody is banged up. It’s what it is.”
The Texans aren’t hiding an injury to Stroud. He’s been, briefly, on the injury report earlier this season. Not for anything serious and he hasn’t missed a game.
With no serious injury, the “terrible excuse” of being banged up as a reason for missing plays he must make lingers over Stroud’s season.
He’s never blamed the poor offensive line play. Bobby Slowik’s offense has never drawn his ire. The extended absences of Nico Collins and Joe Mixon didn’t come up.
It isn’t an excuse a hopeful franchise quarterback makes. It also could belabor how tough this season has been for Stroud.
He’s the leader of this team so he will blame himself before any of those other excuses. Stroud also might not have the answers. It isn’t totally his job to fix what is wrong. That’s a team issue as well.
If Stroud is to be taken at face value on being banged up as an excuse, taking him at his word about knowing he must be better is necessary as well.
The Texans have blown past the comment. Stroud seemed to regret it at the moment. He’s taken plenty of blame this season and only the quick banged-up comment has ever been any semblance of running from it.
Stroud said he wanted to end the regular season on a positive note. Some solid play against the Tennessee Titans before handing it over to Davis Mills will go a long way to putting his “terrible excuse” behind him.
