Expectations Versus Reality as the Bye Week Ends

What parts of the Texans are vastly different than what was expected

The Houston Texans get to work after their bye week today with a bonus practice. The team usually practices just three times, but Monday affords them additional work.

The Carolina Panthers, winless and off a bye of their own, await.

As the bye week dissipates I wanted to take a look at portions of the team vastly different than the expectations I had for them. Most of these expectations were formed after training camp.

C.J. Stroud

Expectations: Ups and downs with some solid play and flashes of brilliance

Reality: The best rookie quarterback and playing better than half the league

How can you not love what C.J. Stroud has put together so far? I’m not sure what else people would have wanted to see from him at this point. The way I look at it, he’s performing like I expected him to play in the final weeks in the first few weeks of this season. I don’t know if I really thought his legs would be so helpful. I knew there was more than he’d showcased but his highly-discussed performance against Georgia in his final college game seems to be what he is as a quarterback. He’s poised. He’s accurate. He’s growing and not making the same mistake over and over. It’s incredible to see and if this is how it looks right now, it’s exciting to see what the final stretch of the season holds for C.J. Stroud.